Methods for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of primary and metastatic basal-like breast cancer and other cancer types

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, methods of theranostic classification of a breast cancer tumor are provided, wherein the classification is determined by detecting an expression level of FOXC1. In other embodiments, methods for predicting a prognosis of a basal-like breast cancer and methods of treating a basal-like breast cancer are provided. In other embodiments, methods for diagnosing metastatic breast cancer using the expression ratio of FOXC1/FOXA1 in a population of breast cancer tumor cells are provided. The methods also entail administering a treatment for metastatic breast cancer if the expression ratio of FOXC1/FOXA1 in the population of breast cancer tumor cells is elevated as compared to a control. Other embodiments provide methods for treating breast cancer with a proteasome inhibitor alone or in combination with a Wnt inhibitor in subjects with tumor cells expressing FOXC1 in a subject.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/749,419, filed Jun. 24, 2015, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/040,034, filed Sep. 27, 2013, now patented (U.S. Pat. No. 9,074,253); which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/852,453, filed Aug. 7, 2010, now abandoned; which is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US10/44817, filed Aug. 6, 2010 and now expired; which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/231,984, filed on Aug. 6, 2009. This application is also a continuation in part of International Application No. PCT/US15/64574, filed Dec. 8, 2015 and now expired, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 62/089,228, filed Dec. 8, 2014, and 62/089,816, filed Dec. 9, 2014. This application is also a continuation in part of International Application No. PCT/US15/64573, filed Dec. 8, 2015 and now expired, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 62/089,214, filed Dec. 8, 2014, and 62/090,323, filed Dec. 10, 2014 and now expired. The applications listed above are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

This application is also a continuation-in-part of International Application No. PCT/US15/64574, filed Dec. 8, 2015; which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 62/089,228, filed Dec. 8, 2014, 62/089,816, filed Dec. 9, 2014, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, as if fully set forth herein.

This application is also a continuation-in-part of International Application No. PCT/US15/64573, filed Dec. 8, 2015; which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 62/089,214, filed Dec. 8, 2014, and 62/090,323, filed Dec. 10, 2014, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

Diversity of molecular alterations, cellular compositions and clinical outcomes in cancer creates a major challenge in cancer treatment with respect to providing accurate diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive information. Tumors are typically described histopathologically using the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) system. This system, which uses the size of the tumor, the presence or absence of tumor in regional lymph nodes, and the presence or absence of distant metastases, assigns a stage to the tumor as described by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). The assigned stage is used as the basis for prognostication and for selection of appropriate therapy. However, this approach has many limitations. Tumors with similar TNM stage and histopathologic appearance can exhibit significant variability in terms of clinical course and response to therapy. For example, some tumors are very aggressive while others are not. Some tumors respond readily to hormonal therapy or chemotherapy while others are resistant.

The use of tumor biomarkers has provided an additional approach for dividing certain tumor types into subclasses. For example, one factor considered in prognosis and in treatment decisions for breast cancer is the presence or absence of the estrogen receptor (ER) in tumor samples. ER-positive breast cancers typically respond much more readily to hormonal therapies such as tamoxifen than ER-negative tumors. Though useful, this biomarker provides information for only a specific subset of breast cancers, leaving other subsets unaddressed.

Gene expression profiling has been successful in delineating specific breast cancer intrinsic molecular subtypes (Perou et al. 2000). This represents a significant advance in the understanding of breast cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide (Landis et al., 1999) and a disease that has proven to be quite heterogeneous in terms of its clinical presentation and features. Groups of breast cancer patients with distinct differences in their prognostic profiles have now been found to have equally distinct biologic and/or molecular profiles to help explain their associated clinical outcomes. This offers a tremendous opportunity to develop personalized therapeutics targeting the specific tumor biology associated with a specific molecular subtype of breast cancer. One particular molecular subtype that has garnered considerable interest is basal-like breast cancer (BLBC).

Although first reported more than 20 years ago on the basis of immunohistochemical (IHC) detection of basal cytokeratins (CK), this subtype again became notable after transcriptomic analysis of breast cancer confirmed its existence as a distinct molecular entity within breast cancer. While it differs substantially from the other delineated molecular subtypes in terms of its molecular makeup, the reason it has captured the attention of cancer biologists and clinicians alike is on account of its uniformly poor prognosis and lack of targeted therapy options. BLBC displays significant overlap with “triple-negative” breast cancer—a pathologic entity defined based on the absence of well-known breast cancer biomarkers estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2). It is estimated that 60% to 90% of triple-negative breast cancers are BLBC. However BLBC is not synonymous with triple-negative breast cancer. Patients with BLBC are often younger, are more likely to be of African-American descent (Carey et al. 2006; Ihemelandu et al. 2007; Ihemelandu et al. 2008), are more likely to be BRCA1 mutation positive (Rakha et al. 2009), frequently develop distant metastatic disease to the brain and/or lung within 3-5 years of initial presentation (Wang et al. 2005) and have poor overall survival (Carey et al. 2006). In fact, the development of distant metastatic disease and subsequent death appears to be independent of initial presenting nodal status, as the majority of patients are lymph node negative at the time of initial diagnosis (Dent et al. 2007).

Currently the most effective biomarkers in routine clinical practice are theranostic biomarkers. Theranostic biomarkers provide information with respect to diagnosis (determination of the cancer biologic subtype), prognosis (determination of the clinical outcome) and therapeutic prediction (determination of therapeutic efficacy). Theranostic biomarkers are functionally most central and pivotal in the network of biomolecules that control the biology of their specific biologic subtype. Hence, targeted therapy directed towards a theranostic biomarker has a profound effect on clinical outcomes.

In breast cancer an example of a theranostic biomarker is ER. It accurately diagnoses “luminal” breast cancer patients (ER-positive), accurately prognosticates their outcome, and predicts their favorable response to tamoxifen, a drug that specifically targets ER. Prior to the introduction of tamoxifen therapy, ER-positive breast cancer patients had a poor prognosis. Their prognosis dramatically improved after therapy with tamoxifen became standard of care for such patients. Therefore, the most important component of a theranostic biomarker is the diagnosis it offers. Because with diagnosis comes prediction of therapeutic efficacy, which ultimately determines patient prognosis. While prognosis may change depending on advancements in therapy, the diagnosis of a biologic subtype, and therefore its target(s) for therapy will remain immutable. Moreover, the prognosis offered by a theranostic biomarker is more accurate than that offered by a non-theranostic biomarker. This is because theranostic biomarkers predict clinical outcomes that are very specific to the biology of the cancer subtype. For example, ER-positive status very specifically reflects the current favorable prognosis associated only with the luminal subtype because it takes into account subtype-specific treatment with anti-ER therapy (e.g. tamoxifen). Therefore, theranostic biomarkers offer superior prognosis.

Whole genome profiling technologies such as gene expression profiling (transcriptomics) have greatly expanded our knowledge of the genes and genetic pathways associated with the development and progression of cancer. Based on this knowledge, several commercialized multigene prognostic tests have entered the complex and expanding landscape of the cancer in vitro diagnostics (IVD) market. These tests contain many genes, only some of which indeed have critical functional importance to the survival and maintenance of the malignant phenotype. Such tests are unable to offer a refined understanding of the underlying biology of a specific subtype. In other words, the main drawback of such multigene prognostic tests is that they are not theranostic. They do not provide a diagnosis of a specific biologic subtype, and therefore they do not offer insight with regard to subtype-specific treatment. As a result, the prognostic value they offer is only an approximation across multiple subtypes. This is in contrast to a theranostic biomarker whose prognostic value is derived from a single subtype, and is therefore more precise and accurate.

Therefore the discovery and elucidation of theranostic biomarkers for BLBC and other cancers is important for the improvement of the classification of tumors and the treatment of cancer patients.

Further, distant metastatic spread of cancer cells to other organs from the primary site of origin currently constitutes the most significant contributor to cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biologic transformation of cancer cells from a non-migratory phenotype to a migratory one, and is thought to initiate the metastatic cascade in cancer. EMT has also been reported to trigger acquisition of stem cell traits in breast cancer. There is a need to develop new approaches to effectively diagnose and treat epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of cancer cells and breast cancer metastasis.

Moreover, cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered to be an important contributing factor towards treatment failure, cancer recurrence, and mortality. CSCs are known to be more enriched in the basal-like and claudin-low subtypes of breast cancer. There is a need to develop new approaches to effectively target and treat basal-like and claudin-low subtypes of breast cancer.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a method of theranostic classification of a breast cancer tumor is provided, the method comprising obtaining a breast cancer tumor sample from a subject, detecting an expression level of FOXC1, comparing the expression level of FOXC1 to a predetermined cutoff level, and classifying the breast cancer tumor sample as belonging to a theranostic basal-like breast cancer tumor subtype or a theranostic hybrid basal-like breast cancer tumor subtype when the expression level of FOXC1 is higher than the predetermined cutoff level.

In one embodiment, the method of theranostic classification of a breast cancer tumor may further comprise determining an expression status for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and classifying the breast cancer tumor sample as belonging to a theranostic hybrid basal-like/HER2+ breast cancer tumor subtype when the expression status of ER is negative (ER−), the expression status of PR is negative (PR−), the expression status of HER2 is positive (HER2+) and the expression level of FOXC1 is higher than the predetermined cutoff level.

In another embodiment, the method of theranostic classification of a breast cancer tumor may further comprise determining an expression status of ER, PR, and HER2 of the breast cancer tumor sample and classifying the breast cancer tumor sample as belonging to a theranostic hybrid basal-like/triple-negative breast cancer tumor subtype when the expression status of ER is negative (ER−), the expression status of PR is negative (PR−), the expression status of HER2 is negative (HER2−) and the expression level of FOXC1 is higher than the predetermined cutoff level.

In another embodiment, the method of theranostic classification of a breast cancer tumor may further comprise determining an expression status of ER, PR, and HER2 of the breast cancer tumor sample and classifying the breast cancer tumor sample as belonging to a theranostic hybrid basal-like/luminal breast cancer tumor subtype when the expression status of ER is positive (ER+), the expression status of PR is negative or positive (PR−/PR+), the expression status of HER2 is negative or positive (HER2−/HER2+) and the expression level of FOXC1 is higher than the predetermined cutoff level.

In one embodiment, a method for predicting a prognosis of a basal-like breast cancer is provided, the method comprising obtaining a breast cancer tumor sample from a subject, detecting an expression level of FOXC1, comparing the expression level of FOXC1 to a predetermined cutoff level, and predicting a poor prognosis of the basal-like breast cancer when the expression level of FOXC1 is higher than the predetermined cutoff level.

In some embodiments, the basal-like breast cancer is a hybrid basal-like/HER2+ breast cancer and the predetermined cutoff level is determined by a 50th percentile level of FOXC1 expression levels for a dataset of breast cancer tumors, the dataset comprising tumors having a HER2+ status.

In other embodiments, the basal-like breast cancer is a hybrid basal-like/luminal breast cancer and the predetermined cutoff level is determined by a 50th percentile level of FOXC1 expression levels for a dataset of breast cancer tumors, the dataset comprising tumors having an ER+ status.

In other embodiments, the basal-like breast cancer is a hybrid basal-like/triple-negative breast cancer and the predetermined cutoff level is determined by a 50th percentile level of FOXC1 expression levels for a dataset of breast cancer tumors, the dataset comprising tumors having an ER−/PR−/HER2− status.

In some embodiments, the prognosis is overall survival, recurrence free survival, a propensity of developing a distant metastasis, a time to a distant metastasis such as brain metastasis, a propensity for resistance to a targeted cancer therapy (e.g., trastuzumab (Herceptin®, tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor), wherein a propensity for resistance to a targeted cancer therapy may be a predictor of resistance or decreased efficacy.

In one embodiment, a method of treating a basal-like breast cancer is provided, the method comprising administering to a subject having a basal-like breast cancer a pharmaceutical composition, the composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of a substance that inhibits FOXC1 expression and/or activity. In one embodiment, the basal-like breast cancer being treated is a hybrid basal-like/triple-negative breast cancer tumor subtype such as a hybrid basal-like/HER2+ breast cancer tumor subtype or hybrid basal-like/luminal breast cancer tumor subtype.

In one embodiment, the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is a PEGylated immunoliposome that encapsulates the substance. In another embodiment, the substance is selected from the group consisting of an anti-FOXC1 antibody or functional fragment thereof, a small molecule or an anti-FOXC1 shRNA, siRNA or RNAi.

In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition further comprises a therapeutically effective amount of a substance that inhibits HER2 expression and/or activity such as trastuzumab (Herceptin®). In other embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition further comprises a therapeutically effective amount of a substance that inhibits ER expression and/or activity such as tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor.

Provided herein in certain embodiments are methods of treating metastatic breast cancer in a subject. In certain embodiments, the methods may include detecting an expression level of FOXC1 in a population of breast cancer tumor cells from the subject, detecting an expression level of FOXA1 in the population of breast cancer tumor cells, and administering a treatment for metastatic breast cancer to the subject if the expression ratio of FOXC1/FOXA1 in the population of breast cancer tumor cells is elevated as compared to a control. In certain embodiments, determining the expression level of FOXC1 and FOXA1 in the breast cancer tumor cells may be performed via quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) or RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). In certain embodiments, the control may be a cutoff expression ratio which is established using a set of FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratios from a population of patients having a cross-section of all types of breast cancer and the cutoff expression ratio may fall at the 75th percentile line, the 80th percentile line, the 85th percentile line, the 90th percentile line, the 95th percentile line, or at higher than the 95th percentile line. In certain embodiments, the control may be a cutoff expression ratio which is established using a set of FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratios from a population of patients having node-negative breast cancer and the cutoff expression ratio may fall at the 80th percentile line. In certain embodiments, the expression ratio of FOXC1/FOXA1 in the population of breast cancer tumor cells may be detected at a pre-symptomatic stage of early breast cancer metastasis. In certain embodiments, the treatment may be a therapeutically effective amount of one or more therapeutic agents. In certain embodiments, the one or more therapeutic agents may be selected from chemotherapeutic agents, therapeutic antibodies and fragments thereof, toxins, radioisotopes, enzymes, nucleases, hormones, immunomodulators, antisense oligonucleotides, nucleic acid molecules, chelators, boron compounds, photoactive agents and dyes.

Also provided herein in certain embodiments are methods of diagnosing metastatic breast cancer in a subject. In certain embodiments, the methods may include detecting an expression level of FOXC1 in a population of breast cancer tumor cells from the subject, detecting an expression level of FOXA1 in the population of breast cancer tumor cells, and diagnosing the subject as having metastatic breast cancer if the expression ratio of FOXC1/FOXA1 in the population of breast cancer tumor cells is elevated as compared to a control. In certain embodiments, determining the expression level of FOXC1 and FOXA1 in the breast cancer tumor cells may be performed via quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) or RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). In certain embodiments, the control may be a cutoff expression ratio which is established using a set of FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratios from a population of patients having a cross-section of all types of breast cancer and the cutoff expression ratio may fall at the 75th percentile line, the 80th percentile line, the 85th percentile line, the 90th percentile line, the 95th percentile line, or at higher than the 95th percentile line. In certain embodiments, the control may be a cutoff expression ratio which is established using a set of FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratios from a population of patients having node-negative breast cancer and the cutoff expression ratio may fall at the 80th percentile line. In certain embodiments, the expression ratio of FOXC1/FOXA1 in the population of breast cancer tumor cells may be detected at a pre-symptomatic stage of early breast cancer metastasis. In certain embodiments, the methods may further include administering a treatment for metastatic breast cancer if the expression ratio of FOXC1/FOXA1 in the population of breast cancer tumor cells is elevated as compared to the control. In certain embodiments, the treatment may be a therapeutically effective amount of one or more therapeutic agents. In certain embodiments, the one or more therapeutic agents may be selected from chemotherapeutic agents, therapeutic antibodies and fragments thereof, toxins, radioisotopes, enzymes, nucleases, hormones, immunomodulators, antisense oligonucleotides, nucleic acid molecules, chelators, boron compounds, photoactive agents and dyes.

Also provided herein in certain embodiments are methods for treating cancer in a subject. In certain embodiments, the methods may comprise determining an expression level of FOXC1 in a population of tumor cells obtained from the subject and administering one or more proteasome inhibitors, and optionally, one or more Wnt inhibitors, to the subject to treat the cancer if the population of tumor cells expresses FOXC1. In certain embodiments, the proteasome inhibitor may be bortezomib. In certain embodiments, the one or more Wnt inhibitors may be iCRT3. In certain embodiments, the cancer may be a basal-like breast cancer. In certain embodiments, the basal-like breast cancer may be triple negative breast cancer. In certain embodiments, the basal-like breast cancer may be ER positive breast cancer. In certain embodiments, the basal-like breast cancer may be HER2 positive breast cancer. In certain embodiments, the cancer may be claudin-low cancer. In certain embodiments, determining the expression level of FOXC1 in the population of tumor cells may be performed via quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR).

Also provided herein in certain embodiments are combination therapies comprising one or more Wnt inhibitors and one or more proteasome inhibitors. In certain embodiments, the one or more proteasome inhibitors may be bortezomib. In certain embodiments, the one or more Wnt inhibitors may be iCRT3. In certain embodiments, the one or more Wnt inhibitors may be a therapeutically effective amount. In certain embodiments, the one or more proteasome inhibitors may be a therapeutically effective amount. [0017] Also provided herein are methods for treating cancer in a subject comprising administering one or more proteasome inhibitors, and optionally, one or more Wnt inhibitors, to the subject to treat the cancer. In certain embodiments, the one or more proteasome inhibitors may be bortezomib. In certain embodiments, the one or more Wnt inhibitors may be iCRT3. In certain embodiments, the cancer may be a basal-like breast cancer. In certain embodiments, the basal-like breast cancer may be triple negative breast cancer. In certain embodiments, the basal-like breast cancer may be ER positive breast cancer. In certain embodiments, the basal-like breast cancer may be HER2 positive breast cancer. In certain embodiments, the cancer may be claudin-low cancer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This application contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this application with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fees.

FIGS. 1A-1D show differential expression of FOXC1 in human breast cancer subtypes. FIG. 1A, values of normalized signal intensity (baseline-to-zero-transformed) for basal-like subtype-associated genes from the Richardson et al. data set (Richardson et al. 2006). Numbers represent different subgroups: (1), normal; (2), luminal A/B; (3), HER2; (4), basal-like. FIG. 1B, boxplot of FOXC1 values (normalized signal intensity) in normal breast tissue and luminal, HER2, and basal-like tumors of the same data set. Statistical significance was determined using ANOVA. FIG. 1C, boxplot of FOXC1 values from the Hess et al. data set with known ER, PR, and HER2 status (Hess et al. 2006). See FIG. 3 legends for description of boxplots. Statistical significance was determined using ANOVA. FIG. 1D, gene expression heat maps of the Ivshina et al. data set (Ivshina et al. 2006) hierarchically clustered by IGS display the expression profile of the FOXC1 signature.

FIG. 2 shows differential expression of FOXC1 in human breast cancer subtypes. Values of normalized signal intensity for 12 reported basal-like markers from a representative dataset (Richardson et al. 2006) are presented. Numbers represent different subgroups: (1), normal; (2), luminal A/B; (3), HER2; (4), Basal-like. The corresponding heat map is shown below.

FIGS. 3A-3D show differential expression of FOXC1 according to molecular subtypes or triple negative status. FIG. 3A. Boxplot of FOXC1 values (normalized signal intensity) in luminal A/B, HER2, and basal-like tumors of the Ivshina et al. dataset (Ivshina et al. 2006). The line in the center of each box represents the median value of the distribution, and the upper and lower ends of the box are the upper (75th) and lower (25th) quartiles, respectively. The whiskers extend to the most extreme data point that is less than 1.5 times the interquartile range from the box. Statistical significance was determined using ANOVA. Table of FOXC1 high (>90th percentile) and FOXC1 low (<90th percentile) status versus molecular subtypes. Chi square P<0.0001. FIG. 3B. Boxplot of FOXC1 values (normalized signal intensity) in luminal A/B, HER2, and basal-like tumors of the Miller et al. dataset (Miller et al. 2005). Statistical significance was determined using ANOVA. Table of FOXC1 high (>90th percentile) and FOXC1 low (<90th percentile) status versus molecular subtypes. Chi square P<0.0001. FIG. 3C. Boxplot of FOXC1 values (normalized signal intensity) in luminal A/B, HER2, and basal-like tumors of the van de Vijver et al. dataset (van de Vijver et al. 2002). Statistical significance was determined using ANOVA. Table of FOXC1 high (>90th percentile) and FOXC1 low (<90_(th) percentile) status versus molecular subtypes. Chi square P<0.0001. FIG. 3D. Boxplot of FOXC1 values (normalized signal intensity) in triple-negative and non-triple-negative tumors of the Hess et al. dataset (Hess et al. 2006). Statistical significance was determined using ANOVA. Table of FOXC1 high (>90th percentile) and FOXC1 low (<90th percentile) status versus triple-negative status. Chi square P<0.0001.

FIG. 4 shows an association of the FOXC1 gene signature with basal-like breast cancer. Gene expression heat maps of a 251-sample human breast cancer cDNA microarray dataset (Miller et al. 2005) hierarchically clustered by IGS demonstrate the overall expression profile of the FOXC1-associated 30 genes.

FIG. 5 shows unsupervised clustering by the FOXC1 gene signature identifies the basal-like subgroup. A 249-sample human breast cancer cDNA microarray dataset (Ivshina et al. 2006) was clustered by IGS and the FOXC1 gene signature respectively. The basal-like subtype clusters are indicated with red bars.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate FOXC1 protein expression in BLBC. FIG. 6A, representative immunohistochemical images of a basal-like sample from breast cancer tissue microarrays stained for ER, HER2, CK5/6, CK14, and FOXC1. FOXC1 protein was not detected in non-triple-negative specimens. FIG. 6B, Venn diagram showing the association between FOXC1 and cytokeratin (CK5/6 and/or CK14) immunohistochemistry status in triple-negative tumors. FIG. 6C, immunoblotting of FOXC1 in normal HMECs and luminal (MCF-7, T47D, and ZR75), HER2-overexpressing (SKBR3 and HCC202), or BLBC cell lines.

FIG. 7 illustrates that FOXC1 is overexpressed in basal-like breast cancer cell lines. Gene expression heat map from cDNA microarray analysis of 51 human breast cancer cell lines. Displayed is the same panel of 12 genes as in FIG. 2. MSN-Moesin, KRT5-Cytokeratin 5/CK5/6, CDH3-P-cadherin, CRYAB-αB-crystallin, KRT14-cytokeratin 14/CK14, KRT17-cytokeratin 17/CK17.

FIGS. 8A-8D illustrate prognostic significance of FOXC1 in human breast cancer. FIG. 8A, Kaplan-Meier curves of overall survival using data from the van de Vijver et al. data set (van de Vijver et al. 2002). Overall survival was stratified by molecular subtypes (left), the FOXC1 gene signature (middle), and FOXC1 mRNA levels (right). FIG. 8B, Kaplan-Meier curves of overall survival in lymph node-negative patients from the same data set. FIG. 8C, Kaplan-Meier curves of brain (left) and bone (right) metastasis-free survival using data from the Wang et al. data set (Wang et al. 2005) stratified by molecular subtypes. FIG. 8D, Kaplan-Meier curves of brain and bone metastasis-free survival stratified by FOXC1 mRNA levels from the same data set.

FIGS. 9A-9C illustrate prognostic power of FOXC1 expression in human breast cancers. FIG. 9A, Kaplan-Meier curves of overall survival using data from a 232-sample microarray dataset (Herschkowitz et al. 2007) with linked clinical information. FIG. 9B, Kaplan-Meier curves of overall survival using data from a 122-sample microarray dataset (Sorlie et al. 2003) with linked clinical information. FIG. 9C, Kaplan-Meier curves of overall survival using data from a 159-sample microarray dataset (Pawitan et al. 2005) with linked clinical information. Overall survival is displayed according to molecular subtypes (left) and FOXC1 mRNA levels (right).

FIG. 10 is a receiver operator curve (ROC)-area under curve (AUC) for FOXC1 expression in predicting basal-like breast cancer. (Parker et al. 2009)

FIGS. 11A-11D show the effects of FOXC1 overexpression and knockdown in breast cancer cells. FIG. 11A, cell proliferation (left), migration (middle), and invasion (right) of FOXC1- or vector-overexpressing MDA-MB-231 cells. Columns, mean (n=3); bars, SD. *, P<0.05, versus the control. FIG. 11B, cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of control or FOXC1 shRNA-expressing 4T1 cells. *, P<0.05, versus the control. FIG. 11C, morphologies of control and FOXC1 shRNA 4T1 cells in monolayer culture. FIG. 11D, representative images of control and FOXC1 shRNA 4T1 cells grown in three-dimensional (3-D) Matrigel (left) and soft agar (right). Bar, 135 μm.

FIGS. 12A-12E show the effects of FOXC1 overexpression in human breast cancer cells and MCF-10A cells. FIG. 12A, FOXC1 was stably transfected into MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Cell proliferation (left), anchorage-independent growth (middle-left), migration (middle-right), and invasion (right) of FOXC1- or vector-expressing cells were measured using MTT, soft agar, and Boyden chamber assays. *, P<0.05 versus the vector control. FIG. 12B, expression of cyclin D1 and fibroblastic markers in MDA-MB-231 cells overexpressing FOXC1 or the control vector was examined by immunoblotting. FIG. 12C, levels of β4 and β1 integrins in MDA-MB-231 cells overexpressing FOXC1 or the control vector were measured by flow cytometry. *, P<0.05 versus the vector control. Of note, same results were obtained with MCF-7 cells. FIG. 12D, expression of MMP2 and MMP9 was measured by ELISA. Each bar represents mean±SD (n=3). *, P<0.05 versus the vector control. FIG. 12E, morphologies of MCF-10A human mammary epithelial cells overexpressing the vector or FOXC1 (left) and immunoblotting of luminal (E-cadherin) and basal (P-cadherin) markers in the same cells.

FIGS. 13A-13D show the effects of FOXC1 knockdown in human breast cancer cells. FIG. 13A, FOXC1 protein levels were compared in MCF-7, BT549, and 4T1 breast cancer cells (refer to FIG. 2C). FIG. 13B, immunoblotting of FOXC1 in 4T1 cells expressing control or FOXC1 shRNA. FIG. 13C, cell proliferation (left), migration (middle), and invasion (right) of control or FOXC1 shRNA19 expressing BT549 cells were measured using MTT and Boyden chamber assays. *, P<0.05 versus the control. FIG. 13D, immunoblotting of FOXC1 in BT549 cells expressing control or FOXC1 shRNA.

FIG. 14 is a Kaplan-Meier curve of overall survival using microarray data from 58 HER2-amplified tumors. Semiquantitative FOXC1 mRNA expression above the 50^(th) percentile was found to be a significant predictor of poor survival (p=0.0313 on univariate analysis). On multivariate analysis, when controlled for age, tumor size and nodal status, FOXC1 mRNA expression greater than 50^(th) percentile cutoff value was an independent prognosticator of poor survival (HR 2.54, 95% CI 1.21-5.33, p=0.0138). Nodal status and age were not significant prognosticators on multivariate analysis (Staaf et al. 2010).

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram of patient identification, sample collection and tissue processing for immunohistochemical assessment of ER, PR, HER2, CK5/6, CK14 and FOXC1.

FIGS. 16A-16B show Kaplan Meier curves of 5-year overall survival of breast cancer patients grouped according to FIG. 16A FOXC1 protein expression status as assessed on standard immunohistochemistry, wherein positive expression of FOXC1 was shown to be a significant predictor of overall survival, independent of the cutoff value employed; and FIG. 16B surrogate immunohistochemical biomarker models of molecular subtype utilizing 3 different cutoff values to define positive expression of FOXC1. Level of protein expression as assessed by IHC was given a score of 0 (negligible or no expression) to 3 (high expression). The three cutoff values were: 0 vs. 1, 2, 3; 0, 1 vs. 2, 3; or 1, 2, 3 vs. 3.

FIGS. 17A-17B show Kaplan Meier curves of 5-year overall survival of breast cancer patients grouped according to FIG. 17A Triple negative phenotype (TNP) status, Basal cytokeratin (CK) expression status and FOXC1 protein expression status as assessed on standard immunohistochemistry; and FIG. 17B 3 surrogate immunohistochemical biomarker panel models of breast cancer molecular subtype—1) the classic 3-biomarker panel comprising of ER, PR and HER2, 2) a 5-biomarker panel comprising of the above receptors in combination with traditional basal-like biomarkers, basal CK5/6 and CK14, and 3) a 4-biomarker panel comprising of ER, PR and HER2, in combination with FOXC1.

FIGS. 18A-18B illustrate that FOXC1 expression is negatively associated with ERα expression in human breast cancer. FIG. 18A Microarray data analyses of the association between FOXC1 and ERα expression in human breast cancers. FOXC1 mRNA levels in breast cancer are shown in box plots. The student's t test was conducted using the Oncomine software. Results from six representative data sets [(Ginestier et al., 2006; Lu et al., 2008; Richardson et al., 2006; Sorlie et al., 2001; Zhao et al., 2004) and the Oncology-Breast Samples Project database (Bittnet et al.) of the International Genomics Consortium (IGC) at https://expo.intgen.org/expo/public] are presented. FIG. 18B Expression of FOXC1 in ERα-positive or -negative human breast cancer cell lines is shown by immunoblotting.

FIGS. 19A-19D show FOXC1 mRNA levels in human breast cancer tissues shown in box plots. Microarray data analyses of the association between FOXC1 and ERα expression in human breast cancers are shown for FIG. 19A the Pollock et al. data set; FIG. 19B the Perou et al. data set; FIG. 19C the Sorlie et al. data set; and FIG. 19D the Schuetet al. data set. FOXC1 expression is shown to be negatively associated with ERα expression in breast cancer. The student's t test was conducted using the Oncomine software.

FIGS. 20A-20D illustrate that FOXC1 downregulates ERα expression. FIG. 20A FOXC1 and ERα mRNA levels in vector or FOXC1 overexpressing MCF-7 cells were measured by RT-PCR (left) and real time RT-PCR (middle and right). FIG. 20B Protein levels of FOXC1, ERα, and ERα-regulated genes PR and IRS-1 in vector- or FOXC1-overexpressing MCF-7 cells were measured by immunoblotting. FIG. 20C FOXC1 was transiently transfected into MCF-7 cells. Immunofluorescence staining of FOXC1 (green) and ERα (red) was performed. The nuclear DNA (blue) was stained by DAPI. Magnification: ×400. FIG. 20D MCF-7 cells were transiently transfected with the ERE-luc reporter construct and the FOXC1 construct or the control vector. Cells were treated with 10⁻⁸ M 17β-estradiol (E2) for 24 h, and were then lysed. Luciferase activity was measured and normalized to β-galactosidase activity. Data represent mean±SD of three independent experiments.

FIG. 21 is an immunoblot illustrating that FOXC1 downregulates ERα expression. FOXC1 was stably transfected into T47D breast cancer cells. Protein levels of FOXC1, ERα, and ERα-regulated genes PR and IRS-1 in vector-or FOXC1-overexpressing T47D cells were measured by immunoblotting.

FIGS. 22A-22C show line (A) and bar (B-C) graphs illustrating that FOXC1 reduces the sensitivity to estrogen and antiestrogen in breast cancer cells. FIG. 22A Proliferation of FOXC1-overexpressing and control MCF-7 cells in serum-free medium was measured by MTT assays. FIG. 22B FOXC1-overexpressing and control MCF-7 cells were serum-starved for 24 h, and then treated with 10⁻⁸ M E2 for the indicated time periods. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assays and is presented as relative growth rates compared with the vehicle control. FIG. 22C FOXC1-overexpressing and control MCF-7 cells in regular medium were treated with 10⁻⁶ M tamoxifen for the indicated time periods. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assays and is presented as relative growth rates vs. the vehicle control.

FIGS. 23A-23G show that FOXC1 induces NF-κB activity in breast cancer cells. FIG. 23A Most significant canonical signaling pathways identified in the three breast cancer subgroups from the Richardson et al. dataset using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software is shown (Basal-like—(a), HER2—(b), Luminal—(c)). Genes from the dataset that were associated with a canonical pathway in the Ingenuity Pathways Knowledge Base were considered for the analysis. Fischer's exact test was used to calculate a p-value determining the probability that the association between the genes in a particular subgroup and the canonical pathway is explained by chance alone. Displayed canonical pathways appear in rank order of their Impact Factor, the negative log of the Fischer's exact test p-value. FIG. 23B Expression of NF-κB components in MCF-7 cells overexpressing FOXC1 or the vector was examined by immunoblotting. FIG. 23C Expression of p65 in 4T1 breast cancer cells stably transduced with control or FOXC1 shRNA was examined by immunoblotting. FIG. 23D Nuclear proteins were isolated from MCF-7 cells overexpressing FOXC1 or the control vector, followed by immunoblotting of p65 and the nuclear protein Lam in A/C. FIG. 23E Nuclear proteins were isolated from MCF-7 cells overexpressing FOXC1 or the control vector. The binding of p65, p50, and c-Rel to consensus DNA oligonucleotides was assessed by ELISA. Data represent mean±SD of three independent experiments. FIG. 23F MCF-7 cells were transiently transfected with NF-κB-luc, FOXC1, and a super-repressor IκBα. NF-κB activity was assessed by luciferase assays. Each bar represents mean±SD of three independent experiments. FIG. 23G MCF-7 cells overexpressing FOXC1 or the vector were treated with the IKK inhibitor BMS-345541 (5 μM). Cell proliferation at the indicated time points was measured by MTT assays and is presented as relative growth rates compared with the vehicle control.

FIGS. 24A-24D show that NF-κB downregulates ERα in breast cancer cells. FIG. 24A Expression of p65 and ERα in MCF-7 cells transfected with p65 or the vector for 48 h was examined by immunoblotting. FIG. 24B Expression of ERα, PR, and IRS-1 in MCF-7 cells treated with the IKK inhibitor BMS-345541 (5 μM) for 24 h was examined by immunoblotting. FIG. 24C MCF-7 cells were transiently transfected with ERE-luc and ERα or p65, and then treated with 10⁻⁸ M E2 for 24 h. ER activity was assessed by luciferase assays. Each bar represents mean±SD of three independent experiments. FIG. 24D ChIP assays were performed as described in Materials and Methods. Antibodies against p65 protein were utilized to immunoprecipitate p65-DNA complexes. The input control was 1% of the protein-chromatin supernatant subjected to ChIP assays. The amplified ERα promoter region is −420/−280 (right).

FIG. 25 shows that NF-κB downregulates ERα in breast cancer cells. Expression of ERα in MCF-7 cells transfected with p65 or the vector for 48 h was examined by real-time RT-PCR. Data represent mean±SD of three independent experiments.*, P<0.05 vs the vector control.

FIG. 26 shows representative immunostaining profiles of CK5/6, CK14 and FOXC1 in FFPE breast cancer specimens according to molecular subtype.

FIG. 27 shows the HRAS-transformed MCF10A cell series (M1-M4) gene expression profiles and normal, basal, luminal A (lumA), luminal B (lumB), and Her2 molecular subtypes. M1-M4 gene expression profiles were most reflective of the basal-like breast cancer molecular subtype.

FIGS. 28A-28B show the 3D culture RNA-Seq and 2D culture qRT-PCR results for FOXC1 in HRAS-transformed MCF10A cell series (M1-M4). FIG. 28A shows the 3D culture RNA-Seq results for FOXC1 and FIG. 28B shows the 2D culture qRT-PCR results for FOXC1.

FIGS. 29A-29B show the 3D culture RNA-Seq and 2D culture qRT-PCR results for FOXA1 in HRAS-transformed MCF10A cell series (M1-M4). FIG. 29A shows the 3D culture RNA-Seq results for FOXA1 and FIG. 29B shows the 2D culture qRT-PCR results for FOXA1.

FIGS. 30A-30H show the 2D culture qRT-PCR results for various genes in HRAS-transformed MCF10A cell series (M1-M4). FIG. 30A shows the 2D culture qRT-PCR results for CDH1. FIG. 30B shows the 2D culture qRT-PCR results for CDH2. FIG. 30C shows the 2D culture qRT-PCR results for Fibronectin (FN1). FIG. 30D shows the 2D culture qRT-PCR results for Vimentin (VIM). FIG. 30E shows the 2D culture qRT-PCR results for SERPINE1. FIG. 30F shows the 2D culture qRT-PCR results for MMP2. FIG. 30G shows the 2D culture qRT-PCR results for SNAI2. FIG. 30H shows the 2D culture qRT-PCR results for FOXC2.

FIG. 31 shows the 2D culture qRT-PCR results for mammospheres.

FIGS. 32A-32C show immunofluorescent images of FOXC1 counterstained with nuclear DAPI. FIG. 32A shows the immunofluorescent image of FOXC1 counterstained with nuclear DAPI in M1, parental MCF10A cells. FIG. 32B shows the immunofluorescent image of FOXC1 counterstained with nuclear DAPI in M2 H-RAS transformed MCF10A cells. FIG. 32C shows the immunofluorescent image of FOXC1 counterstained with nuclear DAPI in M3 tumorigenic and metastagenic cells.

FIGS. 33A-33C show mammosphere formation. FIG. 33A shows M1, parental MCF10A cells. FIG. 33B shows mammosphere formation in M2 H-RAS transformed MCF10A cells. FIG. 33C shows mammosphere formation in M3 tumorigenic and metastagenic cells.

FIG. 34 shows the ratio of FOXC1 to FOXA1 in all patients, the top 50%, top 20%, top 10%, and top 5% of patients with an elevated FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratio. According to one embodiment, these categories correspond to a cutoff at the 50th percentile line, the 80th percentile line, the 90th percentile line, and the 95th percentile line, respectively.

FIG. 35 shows the ratio of FOXC1 to FOXA1 in all patients, the top 50%, top 20%, top 10%, and top 5% of patients with an elevated FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratio. According to one embodiment, these categories correspond to a cutoff at the 50th percentile line, the 80th percentile line, the 90th percentile line, and the 95th percentile line, respectively.

FIG. 36 shows the ratio of FOXC1 to FOXA1 in lymph negative patients, including the bottom 80% and the top 20% of patients with an elevated FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratio. According to one embodiment, these categories correspond to a cutoff at the 80th percentile line.

FIG. 37 shows the Human FOXC1 Amino Acid Sequence (SEQ ID NO:1).

FIG. 38 shows the Human FOXA1 Amino Acid Sequence (SEQ ID NO:4).

FIG. 39 illustrates the regulation of CSCs.

FIG. 40 illustrates the parallel between mammary epithelium differentiation and breast cancer subtypes.

FIG. 41 shows a proposed mechanism of FOXC1 regulation by Wnt/β catenin signaling.

FIG. 42 shows FOXC1 as a downstream mediator of Wnt-driven regulation of CSCs in basal-like breast cancer.

FIG. 43 shows an analysis of beta-catenin (CTNNB1) expression level and survival using a breast cancer transcriptomic database (Curtis et al., 2012).

FIGS. 44A-44D show the correlation between FOXC1 expression and Wnt activity upon biological and pharmacologic inhibition and stimulation with a natural ligand. FIG. 44A shows FOXC1 expression upon biological inhibition with siRNA knockdown of LRP6, a canonical Wnt signaling cell surface receptor. FIG. 44B shows the relative FOXC1 mRNA expression with the siRNA knockdown of LRP6. FIG. 44C shows decreased FOXC1 expression upon pharmacological inhibition with iCRT-3. FIG. 44D shows an increase in FOXC1 expression with addition of Wnt3a, a canonical Wnt signaling ligand.

FIGS. 45A-45B show the relative survival of representative breast cancer cell lines upon inhibition of Wnt/β catenin signaling with increasing doses of the inhibitor iCRT3. FIG. 45A shows the relative survival of the MCF-7 (luminal) breast cancer cell line (see line with diamonds); the SKBR3 breast cancer cell line (overexpresses HER2) (see line with triangles); and the BT-549 breast cancer cell line (basal-like) (see line with squares). FIG. 45B shows the relative survival of the BT-549 breast cancer cell line (high constitutive FOXC1 expression) (see line with squares); the HS578T breast cancer cell line (high constitutive FOXC1 expression) (see line with Xs); and the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line (low constitutive FOXC1 expression) (see line with circles).

FIGS. 46A-46B show the relative survival of representative breast cancer cell lines upon proteasome inhibition with increasing doses of the inhibitor bortezomib. FIG. 46A shows the relative survival of the MCF-7 (luminal) breast cancer cell line (see line with diamonds); the HS578T breast cancer cell line (basal-like) (see line with squares); and the SKBR3 breast cancer cell line (overexpresses HER2) (see line with triangles). FIG. 46B shows the relative survival of the HS578T breast cancer cell line (basal-like) (bottom line); the BT-549 breast cancer cell line (basal-like) (see middle line); and the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line (low constitutive FOXC1 expression) (see top line).

FIGS. 47A-47B show mammosphere formation upon inhibition of Wnt/β catenin signaling by iCRT-3. FIG. 47A shows mammosphere formation with addition of DMSO and FIG. 47B shows mammosphere formation with the addition of iCRT-3.

FIG. 48 is a bar graph showing the fold change of mRNA expression of the stem related genes BMI-1, FOXC1, KIT, NANOG, OCT4, and SOX2 upon inhibition of Wnt/β catenin signaling by addition of iCRT-3 on day 4 (left hand bar) and day 7 (right hand bar).

FIGS. 49A-49B show mammosphere formation upon simultaneous inhibition of Wnt/β catenin signaling by addition of iCRT-3 and inhibition of NF-κB signaling.

FIG. 49A shows mammosphere formation with addition of DMSO and FIG. 49B shows mammosphere formation with the addition of iCRT-3 and bortezomib.

FIG. 50 shows the Human FOXC1 Amino Acid Sequence (SEQ ID NO:1).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding of, and enabling description for, embodiments of the disclosure. However, one skilled in the art will understand that the disclosure may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments of the disclosure.

The embodiments described herein include methods for theranostic classification of cancer, methods for treating breast cancer tumor cells that express FOXC1; and methods for diagnosing and treating metastatic breast cancer based on an elevated expression ratio of FOXC1/FOXA1.

Theranostic Classification

A method for classifying a tumor using a theranostic biomarker with independent prognostic significance is provided herein. A theranostic biomarker provides information relevant to diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of cancer in a subject. Although the present disclosure focuses on methods related to breast cancer in humans, the methods described herein may be applied to any cancer having one or more biomarkers with independent prognostic significance in any subject susceptible to developing breast cancer.

The term “theranostic biomarker” or a “theranostic classification” as used herein means a particular biomarker or classification that, in addition to providing significant diagnostic and prognostic information, also provides information useful in optimizing treatment of a subject having a disease such as cancer. The embodiments described herein provide a theranostic approach to classifying, diagnosing, prognosing and treating cancer. In practical terms, this means that a theranostic biomarker or theranostic classification can identify which subjects and which tumors are most suited to a particular therapy, and also provides feedback on the efficacy of a drug in order to demonstrate or determine how well a drug should work or does work to optimize therapy or therapy regimens. It can also identify which subjects are resistant to particular therapy or therapy regimens.

In one embodiment, the theranostic biomarker may be specific to a disease, such as breast cancer, or may be a general disease biomarker. In one embodiment, the theranostic biomarker is FOXC1. FOXC1 may be used as an independent theranostic biomarker, or may be used in conjunction with other molecular biomarkers that are relevant to a particular type of tumor or cancer. In one embodiment, FOXC1 may be used alone or in conjunction with estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2; also known as ErBb2mer-2/Neu) status for use in a method for theranostic classification, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment breast cancer and its subtypes. In some embodiments, such methods are useful in distinguishing between basal-like breast cancer subtypes, including hybrid basal-like breast cancer subtypes that exhibit both basal-like breast cancer characteristics and one or more characteristics of another subtype such as luminal or HER2-enriched.

In one embodiment, the methods described herein include providing or obtaining a tumor tissue sample. The tumor tissue sample may be a fresh frozen tumor sample, a formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sample, a primary cell culture, or any other suitable tissue for determining an expression level of a biomaker. In one embodiment, the tumor tissue sample is a breast cancer tumor tissue sample.

In some embodiments, an expression level of a theranostic biomarker such as FOXC1 in a tumor tissue sample may be determined by qualitative or quantitative methods such as immunohistochemistry (IHC) or immunocytochemistry (ICC), non-quantitative or quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR or qRT-PCR), protein or cDNA microarray or by a QuantiGene® assay (Panomics). The expression level may be a measurement of mRNA expression or protein expression. Data thus derived may be used to develop a cutoff expression level or a numerical prognostic index FOXC1 Score™ to aid in the clinical prognostic stratification of specific subsets of patients with breast cancer (and/or other cancers including but not limited to, melanoma, neuroendocrine tumors, brain tumors such as glioblastoma multiforme, astrocytoma and other brain cancers, renal cell cancer, sarcomas (such as synovial sarcoma) and leukemia. The numerical prognostic index FOXC1 Score™ may be calculated from a standard curve as generated by plotting qRT-PCR values of FOXC1 mRNA expression against a specific clinical outcome measure such as overall survival (OS), breast-cancer specific survival, recurrence free survival, matastasis-free survival, other suitable prognostic or outcome measures. The numerical prognostic index FOXC1 Score™ may be used for determining a subject's prognosis and may also be used for clinical management purposes for tracking the efficacy or optimizing the efficacy of one or more therapy regimens.

Breast Cancer Subtype Molecular Classification

Molecular classification of breast cancer has identified specific subtypes, often called “intrinsic” subtypes, with clinical and biological implications, including an intrinsic luminal subtype, an intrinsic HER2-enriched subtype (also referred to as the HER2⁺ or ER⁻/HER2⁺ subtype) and an intrinsic basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) subtype. (Perou et al. 2000). Identification of the intrinsic subtypes has typically been accomplished by a combination of methods, including (1) histopathological detection, (2) ER, PR and HER2 expression status and (3) detection of characteristic cellular markers.

Basal-like breast cancer, which expresses genes characteristic of basal epithelial cells in the normal mammary gland, comprises up to 15%-25% of all breast cancers (Kreike et al. 2007) and is associated with the worst prognosis of all breast cancer types. BLBCs underexpress estrogen receptor (ER⁻), progesterone receptor (PR⁻), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2⁻) and encompass 60% to 90% of so-called “triple-negative” (ER⁻/PR⁻/HER2⁻) breast cancers. Although most basal-like breast cancers are often referred to as triple-negative based on the expression status of ER, PR and HER2, not all basal-like breast cancers are triple negative. Thus, the intrinsic basal-like breast cancer subtype may be further subdivided into at least three distinct subtypes described herein as “hybrid” basal-like breast cancer subtypes. In addition to a hybrid triple-negative subtype, the hybrid basal-like breast cancer subtypes have profiles that resemble both basal-like breast cancer and at least one other breast cancer molecular subtype. For example, hybrid basal-like subtypes can include a hybrid basal-like/HER2⁺ subtype that has a receptor profile of ER⁻/PR⁻/HER⁺, a hybrid basal-like/luminal subtype that has a receptor profile of ER⁺/PR^(−or +)/HER^(−or +), and a hybrid basal-like/triple negative subtype that has a receptor profile of ER⁻/PR⁻/HER⁻. The existence and significance of these hybrid basal-like subtypes has not previously been recognized, but because they represent some of the most aggressive and resistant to treatment subtypes of breast cancer, the methods described herein are important to improving the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of this disease. The term “basal-like breast cancers,” “basal-like subtypes,” basal-like tumors,” “BLBCs” or the like as used herein is meant to encompass all cancers and tumors that exhibit characteristics of the BLBC subtype, including the intrinsic BLBC subtype, the hybrid triple-negative BLBC subtype, and any other hybrid basal-like subtypes described herein that may display markers that are associated with the luminal, HER+ or other previously classified subtype.

The intrinsic HER2-enriched subtype (also described as the HER2⁺ or ER⁻/HER2⁺ subtype) is characterized by underexpression of the hormone receptors ER and PR and overexpression of HER2 (ER⁻/PR⁻/HER2⁺). The HER2-enriched subtype is associated with a poor prognosis.

The intrinsic luminal breast cancer subtype is characterized by expression or overexpression of ER and/or PR (ER⁺ and/or PR⁺). The luminal subtype can be further subdivided based on HER2 status into the luminal A subtype, which is additionally characterized by underexpression of HER2 (ER⁺/PR^(+or −)/HER⁻), and luminal B subtype, which is additionally characterized by overexpression of HER2 (ER⁺/PR^(+or −)/HER⁺). Intrinsic luminal subtypes are often considered to be the most treatable breast cancer subtype and are associated with the best prognosis.

Whereas ER and HER2 guide treatment of luminal and HER2 breast cancers, respectively, chemotherapy remains the only modality of systemic therapy for BLBC. Preferentially affecting younger women, particularly African American women, BLBCs are associated with high histologic grade, aggressive clinical behavior, and a high rate of metastasis to the brain and lung (Carey et al. 2006). Unlike other breast cancer subtypes, there seems to be no correlation between tumor size and lymph node metastasis in BLBCs (Dent et al. 2007). Better understanding of the signaling pathways, biologic basis, and molecular mechanisms of basal-like, triple-negative breast cancer and other hybrid basal-like subtypes described above allows identification of accurate biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapy.

BLBCs are associated with expression of basal cytokeratins (CK5/6, CK14, and CK17), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), c-kit, and p53 and associated with the absence of ER, PR, and HER2 expression. With a large variety of associated genes, BLBCs have been defined differently in different studies using a set of diagnostic markers. For example, Nielsen et al. defined BLBC on the basis of negative ER and negative HER2 expression in addition to positive basal cytokeratin, EGFR, and/or c-kit expression (Nielsen et al. 2004). On the other hand, other groups have defined BLBC on the basis of on a combination of negative ER, and negative HER2 expression and positive CK5, P-cadherin, and p63 expression (Elsheikh et al. 2008) or positive vimentin, EGFR, and CK5/6 expression (Livasy et al. 2006). These different technical approaches in combination with widely varying patient cohorts may explain the inconsistent experimental results for these markers.

Identification of the basal-like subtype using immunohistochemistry (IHC) for detecting hormone receptors alone is less desirable than detecting a theranostic biomarker, because identification is based on the absence of IHC staining for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) rather than the presence of a specific tumor marker or markers. Its diagnosis is more one of exclusion rather than inclusion. Basal-like breast cancer is often synonymously referred to as “triple negative” (i.e., ER⁻/PR⁻/HER2⁻), however, not all triple negative breast cancers are basal-like, and not all basal-like breast cancers are triple negative. Although other molecular markers have been associated with basal-like breast cancer as described above, such markers are not exclusive to this basal-like breast cancer and are therefore are not suitable for use as stand-alone markers. The best hope for a realistic, potentially objective, and convenient method to identify basal-like cancers in clinical practices would be through the positive detection of a definitive molecular marker or markers. Identification of FOXC1 as a dominant regulator of the basal-like phenotype may provide a pragmatic approach to distinguish this subgroup of breast cancer in clinical diagnosis, ultimately resulting in improved survival.

FOXC1 as a Biomarker for Basal-Like Breast Cancer

As described in the examples below, specific biomarkers for BLBC were identified and systemically analyzed using a 306-member intrinsic gene set (IGS) (Hu et al. 2006) in addition to other reported individual markers for BLBC using multiple microarray data sets. Degree of correlation of each individual gene with the basal-like subtype based on mRNA expression was used to identify genes highly specific to BLBC. The FOXC1 transcription factor emerged as a top-ranking gene. Therefore, diagnostic and prognostic significance of FOXC1 was assessed and the role of FOXC1 in regulating cellular functions in breast cancer was further characterized.

Forkhead box transcription factors, including Forkhead box C1 (FOXC1, also known as forkhead-like 7 (FKHL7)), are transcription factors characterized by a common 100-amino acid winged-helix DNA-binding domain termed the forkhead box domain, and play important roles in regulating the expression of genes involved in cell growth, survival, differentiation embryonic mesoderm development, migration, and longevity (Nishimura et al., 1998). The FOXC1/FKHL7 gene and protein sequences are known, and can be found in GenBank (Accession Nos. AR140209 (complete sequence; SEQ ID NO:16), AR140210 (coding sequence; SEQ ID NO:17) and AAE63616 (amino acid sequence; SEQ ID NO:18), the sequences of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein). As a result of the studies described herein, it has been determined that FOXC1 expression in human breast cancer, both at the mRNA and at the protein level, occurs consistently and exclusively in basal-like breast cancers. Furthermore, in a head-to-head comparison with other suggested biomarkers of basal-like breast cancer and as shown by statistically significant in both univariate as well as multivariate analyses described in the examples below, FOXC1 has emerged as the most indicative and the most characteristic biomarker of BLBCs, in its ability to diagnose, prognose and treat BLBC.

One important feature of the above results was the exclusive nature of the association between FOXC1 and basal-like breast cancers: its expression is elevated only in basal-like molecular subtypes of breast cancers.

As mentioned above, while many genes are described to be characteristic biomarkers of certain cancer types, and many others are described to be of functional importance to the survival and maintenance of the malignant phenotype, very few are demonstrated to have robust prognostic significance. This is because very few are critical by themselves and instead are part of extremely large and complex networks of biomolecules whose overall function cannot be determined unless the molecules which are most central and pivotal in the network are identified. FOXC1 has been demonstrated to be of extremely high prognostic significance, being predictive of the high mortality and metastasis rate specifically associated with basal-like breast cancers.

Both basal-like triple-negative breast cancers as well as hybrid basal-like breast cancers (HER2 and luminal) have a high rate of metastasis to the brain, a devastating complication of this dreaded disease. The studies described herein show that a 30-member gene signature associated with FOXC1 is predictive of the brain specific metastases observed in the above two subtypes of breast cancer.

The clinical significance of FOXC1 expression is not restricted to breast cancer but may extend to other cancers, including but not limited to, melanoma, neuroendocrine tumors, brain tumors (such as glioblastoma multiforme, or astrocytoma), renal cell cancer, sarcomas (such as synovial sarcoma), and leukemia. FOXC1 expression has been shown to characteristically and exclusively define biologically and clinically aggressive subsets in such cancers and can be used both as a diagnostic as well as prognostic biomarker for these specific cancer types. Furthermore, similar to basal-like breast cancer, FOXC1 is a suitable therapeutic target for these specific cancer types.

The above described findings have clear and important implications for personalized medicine and personalized cancer care as detection of FOXC1 status of the described specific subsets of patients with breast cancer (and/or other cancers like gastric cancer and colon cancer) enables more tailored and specific therapeutic interventions with a greater likelihood of arresting disease progression, extending life expectancy or even achieving a cure.

In some embodiments, a method of use for a theranostic biomarker such as FOXC1 comprises an algorithm for its potential clinical use as a diagnostic tool. While FOXC1 may be used as an independent biomarker, it may also be used alongside other biomarkers such as HER2, ER and PR. For example, in triple-negative breast cancer, the algorithm may include the following steps. First, a patient who has either mammographic or breast MRI—detected abnormality or findings on a clinical examination is designated as suspicious for breast cancer. Next, the patient would undergo a FNNCore biopsy/Excisional biopsy to obtain a tumor tissue. Next, routine pathologic examination of the above-obtained tumor tissue establishes diagnosis of breast cancer. The tumor tissue would then be subjected to immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for ER, PR and HER2. Patients that are found to be triple negative (i.e. ER⁻/PR⁻/HER2⁻) would have their tumor tissue further tested by IHC for FOXC1. Next, patients that are found to be FOXC1 positive can thus be definitively diagnosed to have basal-like triple negative breast cancer.

In another embodiment a theranostic biomarker such as FOXC1 is used as a prognostic tool. FOXC1 may be used to predict the prognosis of factors including, but not limited to, overall survival, recurrence-free survival, the propensity of developing a distant metastasis or the time to develop a distant metastasis (such as brain metastasis), or a propensity for resistance to a targeted cancer therapy regimen. The term “propensity for resistance” to a targeted cancer therapy regimen as used herein may be a predictor of resistance or a predictor of a decreased efficacy (i.e., therapy is less effective from the start of treatment) of a targeted cancer therapy regimen in a cancer patient. A high level of FOXC1 (either protein or RNA) predicts a poor prognosis of such factors, (i.e., decreased overall survival, decreased disease specific survival, decreased recurrence-free survival, increased rate of loco-regional and for distant metastasis) as compared with low FOXC1 levels in specific subsets of patients with breast cancer (and/or other cancers including but not limited to, melanoma, neuroendocrine tumors, brain tumors-such as glioblastoma multiforme, astrocytoma, renal cell cancer, sarcomas—such as synovial sarcoma, and leukemia).

In one embodiment, FOXC1's use as a prognostic tool includes an algorithm. For example, the algorithm may include the following steps, using triple-negative breast cancer as an example. First, a subject whose samples are qualitatively FOXC1 positive based on IHC have samples sent for further quantitative analysis for FOXC1 level using an RT-PCR or other quantitative technique such as a QuantiGene® assay (Panomics). Based on the quantitative value of FOXC1 expression thus obtained, a numerical Prognostic Index FOXC1 Score™ will be calculated for the individual patient which will help determine patient-specific estimates of overall survival, recurrence free survival, time to distant metastasis and type of metastasis associated with basal-like triple-negative breast cancer. This method makes personalized medical care possible for BLBC patients.

FOXC1 Represses Estrogen Receptor-α Expression in Human Breast Cancer Cells by Increasing Nuclear Factor-κB (NF-κB) Signaling

The sex steroid hormone estrogen plays important roles in the development of normal mammary glands and breast cancer (Dhasarathy et al., 2007). Most established effects of estrogen are mediated through its direct binding to two nuclear receptors, estrogen receptor (ER)-α and -β (Couse and Korach, 1999; Kuiper et al., 1997). Both receptors are transcription factors that induce the expression of many breast cancer-related genes. Although ERβ is expressed in breast cancer, its role in tumor progression is not clear (Fuqua et al., 2003). On the other hand, the role of ERα in human breast cancer is well-established. More than 60% of human breast cancers are ERα positive (Keen and Davidson, 2003). It is a prognostic factor for breast cancer and correlates with a higher degree of tumor differentiation and increased disease-free survival (Osborne, 1998). Thus ERα expression defines a subgroup of breast cancer patients who, in general, have a more favorable prognosis than patients with ERα-negative tumors (Zhao et al., 2008). ERα is also a target for antiestrogen therapy and a predictive marker for response to the therapy (Park and Jordan, 2002).

There is tremendous interest in understanding the mechanisms whereby ERα expression and signaling is modulated in breast cancer and in exploiting this knowledge to develop and improve therapeutic interventions targeting ERα. Although several transcription factors or signaling proteins have been identified as ERα regulators, the cellular and molecular events that regulate ERα expression in tumors are not well understood as yet. In addition, the clinical relevance and biological significance of these regulations are still under investigation. It was found that p53 binds to the ERα promoter and positively regulates the transcription of ERα in breast cancer cells (Shirley et al., 2009). In contrast, another study showed that p53 activation decreases the transcriptional activity of ERα by elevating the Kruppel-like factor 4 transcription factor, which can interfere with the DNA-binding function of ERα (Akaogi et al., 2009). Similarly, the BRCA1 tumor suppressor gene has been found to activate or inhibit ERα expression in different studies (Nosey et al., 2007; Rosen et al., 2005). The transcription factor Oct-1 can also be recruited to the ERα promoter to elicit ERα transcription (Nosey et al., 2007).

In breast cancer cell lines, expression of ERα is associated with levels of active forkhead box O protein 3a (FOXO3a) (Guo and Sonenshein, 2004). Increased FOXO3a expression induces ERα transcription and protein levels. FOXO3a can bind to two conserved forkhead binding sites in the ERα promoter. Thus FOXO3a may represent an important intracellular mediator of ERα expression (Guo and Sonenshein, 2004). In support of this study, Belguise et al. showed that PKCq is elevated in ERα-negative breast cancers, activates Akt and thereby inactivates FOXO3a, leading to decreased synthesis of ERα (Belguise and Sonenshein, 2007). It is also well-documented that hyperactivation of MAPK induces loss of ERα expression in breast cancer cells (Oh et al., 2001). Both Akt and MAPK may be implicated in the downregulation of ERα by EGFR/HER-2, which may give rise to an inverse correlation between EGFR/HER-2 and ERα status in breast cancers (Oh et al., 2001; Saceda et al., 1996). Most recently, a G protein-coupled receptor Adenosine A1 receptor has been reported to upregulate ERα expression (Lin et al.). Furthermore, ERα expression can also be regulated through epigenetic modification, e.g. hypermethylation at its promoter, which has been reported to be responsible for the loss of ERα in some breast cancer cells (Yoshida et al., 2000).

As described by the studies herein, forkhead box transcription factor FOXC1 has been identified as an important marker for human basal-like breast cancer, which lacks or under-expresses estrogen receptor-α (ERα). Further, as discussed in detail below, FOXC1 expression was shown to consistently and inversely correlate with ERα expression by analyzing multiple cDNA microarray data sets of human breast cancer. Overexpression of FOXC1 in ERα-positive breast cancer cells downregulated ERαmRNA and protein levels, and reduced cellular responses to estradiol and tamoxifen treatment. FOXC1 overexpression caused an increase in levels of p65 protein, thereby eliciting NF-κB-mediated suppression of ERα. Pharmacologic inhibition of NF-κB in FOXC1-overexpressing MCF-7 breast cancer cells diminished these effects of FOXC1. Taken together, these results reveal a FOXC1-driven mechanism that explains the loss or low expression of ERα in basal-like breast cancer and provide a paradigm for studying the regulation of ERα during breast cancer progression.

FOXC1 as a Therapeutic Target for Basal-Like Breast Cancer

The studies described herein show that FOXC1 plays an important role in initiating and maintaining the aggressive capacity for cellular proliferation, invasion and migration that is typical of basal-like breast cancers. These are well accepted precursor attributes that are necessary for and associated with metastasis to distant organs, a clinical feature which is predicted by a patient's FOXC1 status.

Studies in which FOXC1 expression is targeted and knocked down dramatically reduces the above aggressive features of cancer cells. This demonstrates the utility of FOXC1 as a therapeutic drug target specifically for basal-like breast cancers.

While the clinical significance of the hybrid basal-like subtypes described above has not previously been recognized, these subtypes are typically resistant to targeted receptor therapy, even though they express the target receptor. For example, the hybrid basal-like/HER2⁺ subtype is typically intrinsically resistant to HER2⁺ targeted therpies including, but not limited to, anti-HER2 antibodies (e.g., trastuzumab (Herceptin®), pertuzumab and ertumaxomab) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (e.g., lapatinib)), despite being HER2 positive. Similarly, the hybrid basal-like/luminal subtype is typically intrinsically resistant to hormone receptor targeted therapies including, but not limited to, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMS) (e.g., tamoxifen), and other therapies such as aromatase inhibitors (e.g., anastozole (Arimidex®), exemestane (Aromasin®) and letrozole (Femara®)) and anti-estrogens (e.g., toremifene citrate (Fareston®), This resistance to or decrease in efficacy to targeted receptor therapy is indicated by FOXC1. Thus, FOXC1 positive status may be used as a predictive biomarker of resistance to or decrease in efficacy of biologic therapy attempted with trastuzumab (Herceptin®) or tamoxifen in patients with hybrid basal-like breast cancers. Administration of targeted therapy directed against FOXC1 in hybrid basal-like/HER2⁺ subtype tumors and hybrid basal-like/luminal subtype tumors should restore therapeutic sensitivity to trastuzumab (Herceptin®) and tamoxifen, respectively.

Hybrid basal-like subtype tumors are even more aggressive in their biology and clinical characteristics than either the molecular subtype (HER2⁺ or luminal) or the basal-like subtype alone. Hence any and all therapeutic efforts in this group should include FOXC1 targeted therapy as well as targeted therapy from the earliest possible time after diagnosis.

Validated as a prognostic biomarker, FOXC1 status can be utilized in clinical decision making with respect to recommendations for offering standard adjuvant chemotherapy, enrollment in adjuvant chemotherapy clinical trials, offering neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and enrollment in neoadjuvant chemotherapy clinical trials, to patients with basal-like breast cancer. FOXC1 status may also be utilized in clinical decision making with respect to treatment recommendations for a triple negative-diagnosed patient based on a determination that the patient has a BLBC subtype that is resistant to targeted or other treatments or treatment regimens. For example, a patient diagnosed as triple negative and FOXC1⁺ is likely to be resistant to most targeted therapies and/or chemotherapy, and may therefore decide to forego treatments or treatment regimens in favor of living the rest of their life without the negative effects that are often associated with said treatments. Alternatively, a FOXC1 inhibitor or other FOXC1 targeted therapy may be used in conjunction with adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens.

The pharmaceutical composition may include, but is not limited to, an FKBP52 inhibitor, a CD147 inhibitor, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

In one embodiment, a method for treating cancer may include administering a pharmaceutical composition that includes a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of a substance that targets and inhibits FOXC1 expression or activity (a FOXC1 inhibitor) for the targeted biologic therapy of basal-like/triple negative breast cancer. In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition may also include a therapeutically effective amount of a substance that targets a receptor for the targeted biologic therapy of other hybrid basal-like breast cancers. In one embodiment, the substance that targets a receptor may include, but is not limited to, ER (for targeting the hybrid basal-like/luminal subtype) or HER2 (for targeting the hybrid basal-like/HER2 subtype).

In one embodiment, the FOXC1 inhibitor may include any suitable substance able to target intracellular proteins or nucleic acid molecules alone or in combination with an appropriate carrier or vehicle, including, but not limited to, an antibody or functional fragment thereof, (e.g., Fab′, F(ab′)₂, Fab, Fv, rIgG, and scFv fragments and genetically engineered or otherwise modified forms of immunoglobulins such as intrabodies and chimeric antibodies), small molecule inhibitors of the FOXC1 protein, chimeric proteins or peptides, gene therapy for inhibition of FOXC1 transcription, or an RNA interference (RNAi)-related molecule or morpholino molecule able to inhibit FOXC1 gene expression and/or translation. In one embodiment the FOXC1 inhibitor is an RNAi-related molecule such as an siRNA or an shRNA for inhibition of FOXC1 translation. An RNA interference (RNAi) molecule is a small nucleic acid molecule, such as a short interfering RNA (siRNA), a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), a micro-RNA (miRNA), or a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecule, that complementarily binds to a portion of a target gene or mRNA so as to provide for decreased levels of expression of the target.

The pharmaceutical compositions of the subject invention can be formulated according to known methods for preparing pharmaceutically useful compositions. Furthermore, as used herein, the phrase “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” means any of the standard pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. The pharmaceutically acceptable carrier can include diluents, adjuvants, and vehicles, as well as implant carriers, and inert, non-toxic solid or liquid fillers, diluents, or encapsulating material that does not react with the active ingredients of the invention. Examples include, but are not limited to, phosphate buffered saline, physiological saline, water, and emulsions, such as oil/water emulsions. The carrier can be a solvent or dispersing medium containing, for example, ethanol, polyol (for example, glycerol, propylene glycol, liquid polyethylene glycol, and the like), suitable mixtures thereof, and vegetable oils. In one embodiment, the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is a PEGylated immunoliposome for encapsulating the RNAi-related molecule. The PEGylated immunoliposomes or other carrier or delivery vehicle may be specifically targeted to basal-like tumor cells or specific hybrid basal-like subtype tumor cells by conjugating recombinant human and/or chimeric monoclonal antibodies or functional fragments thereof to the liposomal membrane which are specific for cell surface protein and/or carbohydrate and/or glycoprotein markers specific to the basal-like subtype that is targeted. Such markers that may be targeted include, but are not limited to, CD109, HMW-MAA, HER2, ER, CK5/6, EGFR, c-Kit and any other suitable marker for targeting a desired tumor subtype.

Compositions containing pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are described in a number of sources which are well known and readily available to those skilled in the art. For example, Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy (Gerbino, P. P. [2005] Philadelphia, Pa., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 21st ed.) describes formulations that can be used in connection with the subject invention. Formulations suitable for parenteral administration include, for example, aqueous sterile injection solutions, which may contain antioxidants, buffers, bacteriostats, and solutes which render the formulation isotonic with the blood of the intended recipient; and aqueous and nonaqueous sterile suspensions which may include suspending agents and thickening agents. The formulations may be presented in unit-dose or multi-dose containers, for example sealed ampoules and vials, and may be stored in a freeze dried (lyophilized) condition requiring only the condition of the sterile liquid carrier, for example, water for injections, prior to use. Extemporaneous injection solutions and suspensions may be prepared from sterile powder, granules, tablets, etc. It should be understood that in addition to the ingredients particularly mentioned above, the formulations of the subject invention can include other agents conventional in the art having regard to the type of formulation in question.

The pharmaceutical composition described above is administered and dosed in accordance with good medical practice, taking into account the clinical condition of the individual patient, the site and method of administration, scheduling of administration, patient age, sex, body weight, and other factors known to medical practitioners. The therapeutically effective amount for purposes herein is thus determined by such considerations as are known in the art. For example, an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition is that amount necessary to provide a therapeutically effective decrease in FOXC1. The amount of the pharmaceutical composition should be effective to achieve improvement including but not limited to total prevention and to improved survival rate or more rapid recovery, or improvement or elimination of symptoms associated with the chronic inflammatory conditions being treated and other indicators as are selected as appropriate measures by those skilled in the art. In accordance with the present invention, a suitable single dose size is a dose that is capable of preventing or alleviating (reducing or eliminating) a symptom in a patient when administered one or more times over a suitable time period. One of skill in the art can readily determine appropriate single dose sizes for systemic administration based on the size of the patient and the route of administration.

FOXC1 Expression and Treatment of Basal-Like and Claudin-Low Breast Cancer

The Wnt/β catenin signaling pathway is well known as a regulator of embryonic development and stem cell biology, and is prominently active in basal-like and claudin-low breast cancers. As described in detail herein, transcription factor FOXC1 plays a role in mediating aggressive cell traits in basal-like/claudin low breast cancer (see Ray et al., 2010). As shown in Example 1 below, FOXC1 is a target of Wnt/β catenin signaling and FOXC1 expression predicts response to Wnt inhibition. Further, Wnt mediated regulation of FOXC1 appears to be critical for cancer stem cells (CSCs) in basal-like/claudin low breast cancer.

However, Wnt inhibitors as a single agent may not work well in treating basal-like/claudin low breast cancer. As such, treatment cocktails targeting multiple pathways governing CSCs need to be considered for rational design of effective targeted therapy against basal-like/claudin low breast cancer. As discussed herein, bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor that inhibits nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), effectively overcomes cancer stem cell escape triggered by Wnt inhibitor therapy in Forkhead box C1 (FOXC1) positive basal-like/claudin-low breast cancer. This makes proteasome inhibitors such as bortezomib a candidate drug to treat all types of basal-like/claudin-low breast cancers. Bortezomib has previously been used in a clinical trial to treat triple-negative patients; however, this trial yielded inconclusive results because it was not possible to accurately select basal-like patients. Thus, the patients in the trial were composed of a mix of basal-like positive and basal-like negative patients. FOXC1 is a marker for basal-like breast cancer, which affects ˜70% of triple negative breast cancer. Further, basal-like breast cancer includes more than just triple-negative breast cancer as it is present in up to 30% ER+ type cancers and in >15% HER2+ type cancers. Screening of patients using FOXC1 as a marker will help to more efficiently select patients with basal-like positive cancers for treatment with bortezomib.

Forkhead box transcription factors, including FOXC1, also known as forkhead-like 7 (FKHL7)), are transcription factors characterized by a common 100-amino acid winged-helix DNA-binding domain termed the forkhead box domain, and play important roles in regulating the expression of genes involved in cell growth, survival, differentiation embryonic mesoderm development, migration, and longevity (Nishimura et al., 1998). The FOXC1/FKHL7 gene and protein sequences are known, and can be found in GenBank (Accession Nos. AR140209 (complete sequence) (SEQ ID NO:16), AR140210 (coding sequence) (SEQ ID NO:17) and AAE63616 (amino acid sequence) (SEQ ID NO:18). As a result of the studies described in International Patent Application No. PCT/US 10/44817, filed Aug. 6, 2010, and entitled “Methods for Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment of Primary and Metastatic Basal-Like Breast Cancer and Other Cancer Types,” filed Feb. 3, 2012, it was determined that FOXC1 expression in human breast cancer, both at the mRNA and at the protein level, occurs consistently and exclusively in basal-like breast cancers. It was shown that FOXC1 is elevated only in basal-like molecular subtypes of breast cancers, and has been demonstrated to be of high prognostic significance, as it is predictive of the high mortality and metastasis rate specifically associated with basal-like breast cancers. Furthermore, in a head-to-head comparison with other suggested biomarkers of basal-like breast cancer and as shown by statistically significant in both univariate as well as multivariate analyses, FOXC1 has emerged as the most indicative and the most characteristic biomarker of basal-like breast cancers, in its ability to diagnose, prognose, and treat basal-like breast cancers.

Provided herein are methods for treating a subject with breast cancer including first screening a population of breast cancer tumor cells of the subject to determine whether the breast cancer tumor cells express FOXC1, and subsequently treating that subject having breast cancer tumor cells expressing FOXC1 with bortezomib. In certain embodiments, the breast cancer tumor cells express FOXC1 if the level of FOXC1 is higher than a predetermined cutoff level. In certain embodiments, if the level of FOXC1 is higher than a predetermined cutoff level, then the subject may be classified as having basal-like breast cancer. In certain embodiments, the predetermined cutoff level may be determined by a 90th percentile level of FOXC1 expression levels for a dataset of breast cancer tumors, the dataset comprising all breast cancer subtypes.

Methods used to determine whether a population of tumor cells express FOXC1 may include any suitable method, including but not limited to, immunohistochemistry (or other immunoassay), PCR, RT-PCR, quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) (or any other PCR-based method), and/or the methods, assays and materials described in International Application Nos. PCT/US10/44817 entitled “Methods for Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment of Primary and Metastatic Basal-Like Breast Cancer and Other Cancer Types;” and PCT/US12/23871 entitled “FOXC1 Antibodies and Methods of Their Use;” the subject matter of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

In certain embodiments, detecting the presence or absence of FOXC1 may be accomplished by an in vitro immunoassay, such as immunocytochemistry (ICC), immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blot or fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Alternatively, an in vivo imaging modality may be used, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) or microPET, computed tomography (CT), PET/CT combination imager, cooled charged coupled device (CCD), camera optical imaging, optical imaging and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). When the presence or absence of FOXC1 is determined by an in vivo method, the FOXC1 antibody or functional fragment thereof should be conjugated to an intracellular delivery agent to facilitate deliver of the antibody or functional fragment thereof to the cytoplasm of target cells.

In certain embodiments, an anti-FOXC1 monoclonal antibody may be used to detect expression level of FOXC1 in a cell. As described in detail in PCT/US12/23871, the antibody may specifically bind a target antigenic peptide sequence of human FOXC1 (FIG. 50; SEQ ID NO:1). In one aspect, the target antigenic peptide sequence is 5′-AHAEQYPGGMARAYGPYTPQPQPKD-3′ (SEQ ID NO:2), which corresponds to amino acids 51 to 75 of SEQ ID NO:1 (see FIG. 50). A cysteine residue may be added to the N-terminus (i.e., 5′-C-AHAEQYPGGMARAYGPYTPQPQPKD-3′ (SEQ ID NO:3)) to assist in conjugation to the carrier protein as necessary.

In certain embodiments, if the tumor cells express FOXC1, the subject may be administered one or more proteasome inhibitors, and optionally one or more Wnt inhibitors, to treat the cancer. In certain embodiments, the proteasome inhibitor may be bortezomib. In certain embodiments, the Wnt inhibitor may be beta-Catenin/Tcf Inhibitor III (i.e., iCRT3 or 2-[[[2-(4-ethylphenyl)-5-methyl-4-oxazolyl]methyl]thio]-N-(2-phenylethyl)acetamide). In certain embodiments, the cancer may be basal-like/claudin-low breast cancer. In certain embodiments, the cancer may be basal-like breast cancer. For example, the basal-like breast cancer may be a triple negative breast cancer, an ER positive breast cancer, or a HER2 positive breast cancer. In certain embodiments, the cancer may be claudin-low breast cancer.

Also provided herein are methods for treating cancer in a subject. In certain embodiments, the methods for treating a cancer in a subject include determining the expression level of FOXC1 in a population of tumor cells obtained from the subject; and administering one or more proteasome inhibitors, and optionally one or more Wnt inhibitors, to the subject to treat the cancer if the population of tumor cells expresses FOXC1. In certain embodiments, the proteasome inhibitor may be bortezomib. In certain embodiments, the cancer may be basal-like/claudin-low breast cancer. In certain embodiments, the cancer may be basal-like breast cancer. For example, the basal-like breast cancer may be triple negative breast cancer, ER positive breast cancer, or HER2 positive breast cancer. In certain embodiments, the cancer may be claudin-low breast cancer.

Also provided herein are combination therapies comprising one or more Wnt inhibitors and one or more proteasome inhibitors. In certain embodiments, the proteasome inhibitor may be bortezomib. In certain embodiments, the one or more Wnt inhibitors may be iCRT3. In certain embodiments, the combination therapy may be used to treat a FOXC1 positive cancer. In certain embodiments, the FOXC1 positive cancer may be a basal-like breast cancer. For example, the basal-like breast cancer may be a triple negative breast cancer, an ER positive breast cancer, or a HER2 positive breast cancer. In certain embodiments, the cancer may be claudin-low breast cancer.

Optimal dosages of the combination therapy (i.e., the one or more Wnt inhibitors and one or more proteasome inhibitors) to be administered may be determined by those skilled in the art, and will vary with the particular Wnt inhibitor and/or proteasome inhibitor used, the strength of the preparation, the mode of administration, and the advancement of the disease condition. Additional factors depending on the particular subject being treated, include, without limitation, subject age, weight, gender, diet, time of administration, time and frequency of administration, drug combination(s), reaction sensitivities, and response to therapy. Administration of the pharmaceutical composition may be effected continuously or intermittently. In any treatment regimen, the pharmaceutical composition may be administered to a subject either singly or in a cocktail containing one or more Wnt inhibitors and one or more proteasome inhibitors, other therapeutic agents, compositions, or the like, including, but not limited to, tolerance-inducing agents, potentiators and side-effect relieving agents. All of these agents are administered in generally-accepted efficacious dose ranges such as those disclosed in the Physician's Desk Reference, 41 st Ed., Publisher Edward R. Barnhart, N.J. (1987), which is herein incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. [0030] “Treating” or “treatment” of a condition may refer to preventing the condition, slowing the onset or rate of development of the condition, reducing the risk of developing the condition, preventing or delaying the development of symptoms associated with the condition, reducing or ending symptoms associated with the condition, generating a complete or partial regression of the condition, or some combination thereof. Treatment may also mean a prophylactic or preventative treatment of a condition.

In certain aspects of the embodiments described above, the use of a proteasome inhibitor (e.g., bortezomib) and optionally, one or more Wnt inhibitors, for treating a FOXC1 positive cancer is provided herein. In certain embodiments, the FOXC1 positive cancer may be a basal-like breast cancer. For example, the basal-like breast cancer may be a triple negative breast cancer, an ER positive breast cancer, or a HER2 positive breast cancer. In certain embodiments, the cancer may be claudin-low breast cancer. All of the embodiments described herein apply to such uses.

As used herein, a “subject” refers to a mammal, such as a human. In some embodiments, the subject is a patient.

In certain embodiments, the one or more proteasome inhibitors, and optionally, one or more Wnt inhibitors, may be administered in combination with a therapeutic agent, radiotherapy, surgery, or any combination thereof.

As used herein, a “therapeutically effective amount,” “therapeutically effective concentration” or “therapeutically effective dose” is an amount which, as compared to a corresponding subject who has not received such amount, results in improved treatment, healing, prevention, or amelioration of a disease, disorder, or side effect, or a decrease in the rate of advancement of a disease or disorder.

This amount will vary depending upon a variety of factors, including but not limited to the characteristics of the one or more Wnt inhibitors and one or more proteasome inhibitors or pharmaceutical compositions thereof (including activity, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and bioavailability thereof), the physiological condition of the subject treated (including age, sex, disease type and stage, general physical condition, responsiveness to a given dosage, and type of medication) or cells, the nature of the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or carriers in the formulation, and the route of administration. Further, an effective or therapeutically effective amount may vary depending on whether the one or more Wnt inhibitors and one or more proteasome inhibitors disclosed herein or the pharmaceutical composition thereof is administered alone or in combination with other drug(s), other therapy/therapies or other therapeutic method(s) or modality/modalities. One skilled in the clinical and pharmacological arts will be able to determine an effective amount or therapeutically effective amount through routine experimentation, namely by monitoring a cell's or subject's response to administration of the one or more Wnt inhibitors and one or more proteasome inhibitors or the pharmaceutical composition thereof and adjusting the dosage accordingly. For additional guidance, see Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 21 st Edition, Univ. of Sciences in Philadelphia (USIP), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, Pa., 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein for additional guidance for determining a therapeutically effective amount.

In some embodiments, the one or more proteasome inhibitors, and optionally, one or more Wnt inhibitors, used in the methods and therapies herein may be administered as a combination of one or more therapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer. “A combination” or “in combination with,” as used herein, means in the course of treating the same cancer in the same subject using two or more agents, drugs, treatment regimens, treatment modalities or a combination thereof, in any order. This includes simultaneous administration, as well as in a temporally spaced order of up to several days apart. Such combination treatment may also include more than a single administration of any one or more of the agents, drugs, treatment regimens or treatment modalities. Further, the administration of the two or more agents, drugs, treatment regimens, treatment modalities or a combination thereof may be by the same or different routes of administration.

The treatment as described herein may be administered by any suitable route of administration, alone or as part of a pharmaceutical composition. A route of administration may refer to any administration pathway known in the art, including but not limited to aerosol, enteral, nasal, ophthalmic, oral, parenteral, rectal, transdermal (e.g., topical cream or ointment, patch), or vaginal. “Transdermal” administration may be accomplished using a topical cream or ointment or by means of a transdermal patch. “Parenteral” refers to a route of administration that is generally associated with injection, including infraorbital, infusion, intraarterial, intracapsular, intracardiac, intradermal, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intrapulmonary, intraspinal, intrasternal, intrathecal, intrauterine, intravenous, subarachnoid, subcapsular, subcutaneous, transmucosal, or transtracheal.

Examples of therapeutic agents that may be administered as a treatment include, but are not limited to, chemotherapeutic agents, therapeutic antibodies and fragments thereof, toxins, radioisotopes, enzymes (e.g., enzymes to cleave prodrugs to a cytotoxic agent at the site of the tumor), nucleases, hormones, immunomodulators, antisense oligonucleotides, nucleic acid molecules (e.g., mRNA molecules, cDNA molecules or RNAi molecules such as siRNA or shRNA), chelators, boron compounds, photoactive agents and dyes. The therapeutic agent may also include a metal, metal alloy, intermetallic or core-shell nanoparticle bound to a chelator that acts as a radiosensitizer to render the targeted cells more sensitive to radiation therapy as compared to healthy cells.

Chemotherapeutic agents that may be used in accordance with the embodiments described herein are often cytotoxic or cytostatic in nature and may include, but are not limited to, alkylating agents, antimetabolites, anti-tumor antibiotics, topoisomerase inhibitors, mitotic inhibitors hormone therapy, targeted therapeutics and immunotherapeutics. In some embodiments the chemotherapeutic agents that may be used as therapeutic agents in accordance with the embodiments of the disclosure include, but are not limited to, 13-cis-Retinoic Acid, 2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine, 5-Azacitidine, 5-Fluorouracil, 6-Mercaptopurine, 6-Thioguanine, actinomycin-D, adriamycin, aldesleukin, alemtuzumab, alitretinoin, all-transretinoic acid, alpha interferon, altretamine, amethopterin, amifostine, anagrelide, anastrozole, arabinosylcytosine, arsenic trioxide, amsacrine, am inocamptothecin, aminoglutethimide, asparaginase, azacytidine, bacillus calmette-guerin (BCG), bendamustine, bevacizumab, bexarotene, bicalutamide, bleomycin, busulfan, calcium leucovorin, citrovorum factor, capecitabine, canertinib, carboplatin, carmustine, cetuximab, chlorambucil, cisplatin, cladribine, cortisone, cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, darbepoetin alfa, dasatinib, daunomycin, decitabine, denileukin diftitox, dexamethasone, dexasone, dexrazoxane, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, decarbazine, docetaxel, doxorubicin, doxifluridine, eniluracil, epirubicin, epoetin alfa, erlotinib, everolimus, exemestane, estramustine, etoposide, filgrastim, fluoxymesterone, fulvestrant, flavopiridol, floxuridine, fludarabine, fluorouracil, flutamide, gefitinib, gemcitabine, gemtuzumab ozogamicin, goserelin, granulocyte—colony stimulating factor, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor, hexamethylmelamine, hydrocortisone hydroxyurea, ibritumomab, interferon alpha, interleukin-2, interleukin-11, isotretinoin, ixabepilone, idarubicin, imatinib mesylate, ifosfamide, irinotecan, lapatinib, lenalidomide, letrozole, leucovorin, leuprolide, liposomal Ara-C, lomustine, mechlorethamine, megestrol, melphalan, mercaptopurine, mesna, methotrexate, methylprednisolone, mitomycin C, mitotane, mitoxantrone, nelarabine, nilutamide, octreotide, oprelvekin, oxaliplatin, paclitaxel, palbociclib, pamidronate, pemetrexed, panitumumab, PEG Interferon, pegaspargase, pegfilgrastim, PEG-L-asparaginase, pentostatin, plicamycin, prednisolone, prednisone, procarbazine, raloxifene, rituximab, romiplostim, ralitrexed, sapacitabine, sargramostim, satraplatin, sorafenib, sunitinib, semustine, streptozocin, tamoxifen, tegafur, tegafur-uracil, temsirolimus, temozolamide, teniposide, thalidomide, thioguanine, thiotepa, topotecan, toremifene, tositumomab, trastuzumab, tretinoin, trimitrexate, alrubicin, vincristine, vinblastine, vindestine, vinorelbine, vorinostat, or zoledronic acid.

Therapeutic antibodies and functional fragments thereof, that may be used as therapeutic agents in accordance with the embodiments of the disclosure include, but are not limited to, alemtuzumab, bevacizumab, cetuximab, edrecolomab, gemtuzumab, ibritumomab tiuxetan, panitumumab, rituximab, tositumomab, and trastuzumab and other antibodies associated with breast cancer.

Toxins that may be used as therapeutic agents in accordance with the embodiments of the disclosure include, but are not limited to, ricin, abrin, ribonuclease (RNase), DNase I, Staphylococcal enterotoxin-A, pokeweed antiviral protein, gelonin, diphtheria toxin, Pseudomonas exotoxin, and Pseudomonas endotoxin.

Radioisotopes that may be used as therapeutic agents in accordance with the embodiments of the disclosure include, but are not limited to, ³²P, ⁸⁹Sr, ⁹⁰Y, ^(99m)Tc, ⁹⁹Mo, ¹³¹I, ¹⁵³Sm, ¹⁷⁷Lu, ¹⁸⁶Re, ²¹³Bi, ²²³Ra, and ²²⁵Ac.

The treatment and administration steps described herein may include any suitable treatment used in accordance with standard practice for treatment of breast cancer. The treatment is not limited to any particular treatment. One skilled in the art will appreciate that any United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved therapeutic treatment or off-label treatment may be used in accordance with the methods provided herein.

In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition may also include a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A pharmaceutically acceptable carrier may be a pharmaceutically acceptable material, composition, or vehicle that is involved in carrying or transporting a compound of interest from one tissue, organ, or portion of the body to another tissue, organ, or portion of the body. For example, the carrier may be a liquid or solid filler, diluent, excipient, solvent, or encapsulating material, or some combination thereof. Each component of the carrier must be “pharmaceutically acceptable” in that it must be compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation. It also must be suitable for contact with any tissue, organ, or portion of the body that it may encounter, meaning that it must not carry a risk of toxicity, irritation, allergic response, immunogenicity, or any other complication that excessively outweighs its therapeutic benefits.

Expression Ratio of FOXC1/FOXA1 for use in Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Methods for diagnosing and treating metastatic breast cancer based on an elevated expression ratio of FOXC1/FOXA1 in a population of breast cancer tumor cells from a subject having breast cancer are provided herein. The findings described herein fulfill the unmet need of diagnosing clinically occult, asymptomatic metastasis, which allows for treatment of metastatic cancer earlier than currently possible, when the tumor burden is still small enough that it can be treated effectively.

Distant metastatic spread of cancer cells to other organs from the primary site of origin currently represents the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality (Howlander et al, 1975-2010). According to current oncology practice guidelines, breast cancer patients (who have already undergone initial treatment for breast cancer) are diagnosed with metastatic spread only when clinical suspicion is aroused, either by abnormal values on screening laboratory tests, or appearance of new clinical symptoms, suggestive of dysfunction in distant organs to which the cancer has metastasized. Even in those patients undergoing routine surveillance during follow-up, most recurrent breast cancer (unlike primary breast cancer) is already symptomatic at the time of diagnosis (Ghezzi et al., 1994; Tomin and Donegan, 1987). Metastatic cancer cell conglomerates have finally exceeded the threshold of detection on conventional imaging tests such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) (greater than 10 million cells or 0.5 cm<3>) or Computer Tomography (CT) scan (greater than 1 billion cells or 1 cm<3>) (Friberg and Mattson, 1997). Once abnormal or suspicious masses are found in locations suspected to represent metastatic disease, an image-guided biopsy to establish a tissue diagnosis of breast cancer metastasis is obtained. Tissue diagnosis is important to establish, as palliative intent chemotherapy cannot ethically be undertaken without proof of the existence of metastatic disease. Starting treatment following a diagnosis of metastatic cancer is likely to represent “too little too late” as the tumor burden is overwhelmingly large. Such an approach is less likely to meet with a favorable outcome and certainly would not be a curative one. On the other hand, early detection of such a metastasis, if possible, at the pre-symptomatic stage, would allow starting potentially life-prolonging treatments before metastatic tumor burden is allowed to reach overwhelming proportions.

Currently, it is still not possible to diagnose clinically occult, asymptomatic metastasis early enough, at a point in time when the total metastatic tumor burden is small enough that it can still potentially be treated effectively. Before drugs can be rationally designed to target the metastatic spread of breast cancer, understanding of the molecular mechanisms that are driving this process must be improved and expanded. Such an understanding is also critical to the development of suitable biomarkers that would allow early detection of the metastatic phenotype. Despite the fact that several prospective studies have been conducted to try and identify screening biomarkers for breast cancer metastasis, such as liver function tests, none have been found to have sufficient sensitivity or specificity for this purpose (Crivellari et al., 1995). Studies with circulating tumor markers, while more promising, have not yet led to recommendations supporting their routine use in the ongoing surveillance of patients already treated for primary breast cancer (Guadagni et al., 2001; Kokko et al. 2002; Molina et al., 2010; Molina et al., 2003; Nicolini et al., 2006). Several multicenter, randomized cancer surveillance trials evaluating various follow-up strategies (routine blood tests and imaging tests) have neither been successful in demonstrating earlier diagnosis of metastasis nor have achieved any survival advantage as a result of any intensive surveillance measures (Ghezzi et al., 1994; Delturco et al., 1994; Palli et al., 1999).

A traditional clinical measure of advanced disease predictive of an elevated risk of future distant metastasis is the presence of cancer cells in the lymph nodes. Lymph node status at the time of diagnosis has very important clinical implications. Currently, if a patient diagnosed with breast cancer is found to have lymph node involvement (lymph node “positive”; LNP), it is the basis of recommending adjuvant chemotherapy. However, it is known from historical observations that not all patients who are lymph node positive actually go on to manifest with distant metastatic disease despite the predicted elevated risk, even in the absence of adjuvant treatment. Since there is not a good way to predict who will or will not develop distant metastatic disease in the lymph node positive group, the overtreatment of some to benefit others is currently considered acceptable in clinical practice. By the same token, if a patient diagnosed with breast cancer is found not to have lymph node involvement (lymph node “negative”; LNN), a favorable prognosis is predicted and is the basis of often withholding adjuvant chemotherapy in an attempt to minimize unnecessary side effects of chemotherapy. Some patients who are lymph node negative still go on to manifest with distant metastatic disease despite the predicted low risk. There is clearly a need to improve the prediction of cancer metastasis in both LNP and LNN groups. This would help to reduce the incidence of both overtreatment and undertreatment of such patients.

The process of cancer metastasis is not random. Rather, it consists of a series of linked, sequential steps by which non-migratory cancer cells of epithelial (E) origin transform into migratory mesenchymal (M) cells (epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT). They then detach from neighboring cells, move freely through adjacent tissues, enter the bloodstream leaving their tissue site of origin, manage to survive in this new migratory environment, and finally exit into a new destination tissue and colonize it, usually undergoing a reverse change referred to as mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) (Thiery et al., 2009; Yang and Weinberg, 2008). EMT is a critical precursor event that enables cancer cells to metastasize. Traditionally, E and M cell surface markers have been used to define and follow such cells as they undergo dynamic transition between E and M states. However, recent findings would suggest that cell surface E and M markers may not always be accurate in reflecting the subtle changes along the EMT spectrum. For example, loss of expression of E-cadherin, an epithelial cell surface marker, is widely believed to be requisite for and synonymous with acquisition of a mesenchymal phenotype. Yet, it has been shown that loss of E-cadherin is not necessary for functional EMT to occur (Hollestelle et al., 2013; Shamir et al., 2014). Thus, methods relying solely on cell surface expression of E and M marker expression may not be accurate in capturing the true polarization state of a cell, especially cells that are “poised” for such change and are precursors of the metastatic process, but have not yet manifested with overt changes in cell surface marker expression.

Transcription factor (TF) Forkhead box C1 (FOXC1), strongly associated with the basal-like and claudin-low breast cancer molecular subtypes (see Ray et al., 2010), is a powerful epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) inducer and is also a marker of stem/progenitor cells. In contrast, TF Forkhead box A1 (FOXA1), strongly associated with luminal subtypes, is an EMT repressor and a luminal differentiation marker, thus seemingly exerting reciprocally opposite transcriptional effects to that of FOXC1. It was hypothesized that effective EMT program activation status in breast cancer might be better predicted by examining the expression ratio of an EMT inducer and EMT repressor, such as FOXC1/FOXA1, theoretically being more reflective of net transcriptional effect than either component alone.

As shown in Example 1 below, elevated FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratio indicates EMT program activation in breast cancer, and predicts the associated occurrence of lymph-node-independent distant metastasis and death in human patients. These findings allow for the early (pre-symptomatic) diagnosis of clinically occult (node negative) metastasis by using the FOXC1/FOXA1 ratio as a biomarker of metastasis and permit institution of appropriate therapy earlier than currently possible. The current study provided herein improves the understanding of EMT and highlights the importance of future studies geared towards unraveling mechanisms involved in regulating FOXC1 and FOXA1 expression in breast cancer.

Provided herein are methods of diagnosing and/or treating EMT of cancer cells. In certain embodiments, a method of treating EMT of cancer cells may comprise detecting an expression level of FOXC1 in a population of breast cancer tumor cells from the subject; detecting an expression level of FOXA1 in the population of breast cancer tumor cells; and administering a treatment for EMT of cancer cells if an expression ratio of FOXC1/FOXA1 is elevated as compared to a control. In certain embodiments, the subject may be lymph node negative.

Also provided are methods of diagnosing and/or treating metastatic breast cancer. In certain embodiments, a method of treating metastatic breast cancer in a subject may comprise detecting an expression level of FOXC1 in a population of breast cancer tumor cells from the subject; detecting an expression level of FOXA1 in the population of breast cancer tumor cells; and administering a treatment for metastatic breast cancer to the subject if an expression ratio of FOXC1/FOXA1 in the population of breast cancer tumor cells is elevated as compared to a control. In certain embodiments, the subject may be lymph node negative.

Also provided in certain embodiments are methods of predicting the associated occurrence of lymph-node independent distant metastasis. In certain embodiments, a method of predicting the associated occurrence of lymph-node independent distant metastasis in a subject may comprise detecting an expression level of FOXC1 in a population of breast cancer tumor cells from the subject; detecting an expression level of FOXA1 in the population of breast cancer tumor cells; and predicting that the subject may have an associated occurrence of lymph-node independent distant metastasis if an expression ratio of FOXC1/FOXA1 is elevated in the population of breast cancer tumor cells as compared to a control.

As provided herein, methods used to determine the expression level of FOXC1 and FOXA1 may include any suitable method, including but not limited to, immunohistochemistry (or other immunoassay), PCR, RT-PCR, qRT-PCR (or any other PCR-based method), and/or the methods, assays and materials described in International Application Nos. PCT/US10/44817 entitled “Methods for Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment of Primary and Metastatic Basal-Like Breast Cancer and Other Cancer Types;” and PCT/US 12/23871 entitled “FOXC1 Antibodies and Methods of Their Use;” the subject matter of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

Detecting the expression level of FOXC1 and/or FOXA1 may be accomplished by an in vitro immunoassay, such as immunocytochemistry (ICC), immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blot or fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Alternatively, an in vivo imaging modality may be used, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) or microPET, computed tomography (CT), PET/CT combination imager, cooled charged coupled device (CCD), camera optical imaging, optical imaging and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). When the presence of FOXC1 and/or FOXA1 is determined by an in vivo method, the FOXC1 and/or FOXA1 antibody or functional fragment thereof should be conjugated to an intracellular delivery agent to facilitate deliver of the antibody or functional fragment thereof to the cytoplasm of target cells.

In certain embodiments, an anti-FOXC1 monoclonal antibody may be used to detect expression level of FOXC1 in a cell. As described in detail in PCT/US12/23871, the antibody may specifically bind a target antigenic peptide sequence of human FOXC1 (FIG. 37; SEQ ID NO: 1). In one aspect, the target antigenic peptide sequence is 5′-AHAEQYPGGMARAYGPYTPQPQPKD-3′ (SEQ ID NO:2), which corresponds to amino acids 51 to 75 of SEQ ID NO: 1 (see FIG. 37). A cysteine residue may be added to the N-terminus (i.e., 5′-C-AHAEQYPGGMARAYGPYTPQPQPKD-3′ (SEQ ID NO:3)) to assist in conjugation to the carrier protein as necessary. In certain embodiments, an anti-FOXA1 antibody may be used to detect the expression level of FOXA1 in a cell. The antibody may specifically bind a target antigenic peptide sequence of human FOXA1 (FIG. 38; SEQ ID NO:4; NCBI Reference Sequence: NP_004487.2).

In certain embodiments, the methods described herein may be used to treat metastatic breast cancer. For example, determination of the expression levels of FOXC1 and FOXA1 can be used to dictate the administration of a therapeutic agent when the expression ratio of FOXC1 to FOXA1 is elevated as compared to a control. The method of treating metastatic breast cancer includes a step of administering a therapeutically effective amount or dose of a treatment for metastatic breast cancer.

An “elevated” expression ratio is typically in comparison to a control. In certain embodiments, the control is a cutoff expression ratio. In some aspects, a cutoff expression ratio may be established using a set of FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratios from a population of relevant subjects. For example, the set of FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratios are from a population of node-negative breast cancer patients. Alternatively, the FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratios are from a population of patients having a specific type of breast cancer (e.g., basal-like breast cancer patients) or population of patients having a cross-section of all types of breast cancer. In these embodiments, the cutoff expression ratio is determined by selecting a FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratio within the population that falls at or higher than the 50th percentile line, at or higher than the 60th percentile line, at or higher than the 70th percentile line, at or higher than the 75th percentile line, at or higher than the 80th percentile line, at or higher than the 85th percentile line, at or higher than the 90th percentile line, or at or higher than the 95th percentile line. In one preferred embodiment, the cutoff expression ratio falls at or above the 80th percentile line. Within these embodiments, an “elevated” FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratio falls above the cutoff expression ratio.

In other embodiments, the control is an index of expression ratios. For example, a set of FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratios from a population of relevant subjects may be used to establish a standard curve or reference index of FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratios by plotting the FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratios against a specific clinical outcome measure such as presence of metastatic disease, overall survival, breast cancer specific survival, recurrence free survival, metastasis free survival, or other suitable diagnostic or prognostic outcome measures. Such a standard curve or reference index may be used to categorize or stage a subject's individual FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratio such that if a FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratio falls in an upper range of ratios within a standard curve or reference index that correlates to an abnormal condition (e.g., metastatic disease) or outcome (e.g., survival), the subject's ratio is considered to be “elevated”.

In certain embodiments, a node-negative breast cancer patient that has a FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratio that is in the highest 20% of a population of node-negative breast cancer patients, or is above the 80th percentile of a population of node negative breast cancer patients (i.e., above the control cutoff ratio) indicates or can predict early stages of metastasis before other measurable symptoms occur. [0035] Overall survival of a subject with breast cancer may also be predicted if the subject has an elevated FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratio as compared to a control. In certain embodiments, when the expression ratio of FOXC1/FOXA1 in a population of breast cancer tumor cells from the subject falls at or higher than the 50th percentile line, at or higher than the 60th percentile line, at or higher than the 70th percentile line, at or higher than the 75th percentile line, at or higher than the 80th percentile line, at or higher than the 85th percentile line, at or higher than the 90th percentile line, or at or higher than the 95th percentile line, the subject may have a significantly decreased 10 year overall survival as compared to the 10 year survival of a population of patients that have all types of breast cancer (see FIG. 35). In certain embodiments, when the expression ratio of FOXC1/FOXA1 in the population of breast cancer tumor cells from a node-negative breast cancer patient is in the highest 20% of a population of node-negative breast cancer patients, or is at or above the 80th percentile of a population of node negative breast cancer patients (i.e., above or higher than the control cutoff ratio), the subject may have a significantly decreased 10 year overall survival as compared to a population of node-negative breast cancer patients that have a FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratio that is lower than the 80th percentile of a population of node negative breast cancer patients (see FIG. 36).

“Treating” or “treatment” of a condition may refer to preventing the condition, slowing the onset or rate of development of the condition, reducing the risk of developing the condition, preventing or delaying the development of symptoms associated with the condition, reducing or ending symptoms associated with the condition, generating a complete or partial regression of the condition, or some combination thereof. Treatment may also mean a prophylactic or preventative treatment of a condition.

As used herein, a “subject” refers to a mammal, such as a human. In some embodiments, the subject is a patient.

In some embodiments, the treatment used in the methods herein may be administered as a combination of one or more therapeutic agents for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. “A combination” or “in combination with,” as used herein, means in the course of treating the same cancer in the same subject using two or more agents, drugs, treatment regimens, treatment modalities or a combination thereof, in any order. This includes simultaneous administration, as well as in a temporally spaced order of up to several days apart. Such combination treatment may also include more than a single administration of any one or more of the agents, drugs, treatment regimens or treatment modalities. Further, the administration of the two or more agents, drugs, treatment regimens, treatment modalities or a combination thereof may be by the same or different routes of administration. In some embodiments, the treatment used in the methods herein may be administered in combination with local therapy, such as surgery or radiation therapy, or a combination thereof.

Examples of therapeutic agents that may be administered as a treatment include, but are not limited to, chemotherapeutic agents, therapeutic antibodies and fragments thereof, toxins, radioisotopes, enzymes (e.g., enzymes to cleave prodrugs to a cytotoxic agent at the site of the tumor), nucleases, hormones, immunomodulators, antisense oligonucleotides, nucleic acid molecules (e.g., mRNA molecules, cDNA molecules or RNAi molecules such as siRNA or shRNA), chelators, boron compounds, photoactive agents and dyes. The therapeutic agent may also include a metal, metal alloy, intermetallic or core-shell nanoparticle bound to a chelator that acts as a radiosensitizer to render the targeted cells more sensitive to radiation therapy as compared to healthy cells.

Chemotherapeutic agents that may be used in accordance with the embodiments described herein are often cytotoxic or cytostatic in nature and may include, but are not limited to, alkylating agents, antimetabolites, anti-tumor antibiotics, topoisomerase inhibitors, mitotic inhibitors hormone therapy, targeted therapeutics and immunotherapeutics. In some embodiments the chemotherapeutic agents that may be used as therapeutic agents in accordance with the embodiments of the disclosure include, but are not limited to, 13-cis-Retinoic Acid, 2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine, 5-Azacitidine, 5-Fluorouracil, 6-Mercaptopurine, 6-Thioguanine, actinomycin-D, adriamycin, aldesleukin, alemtuzumab, alitretinoin, all-transretinoic acid, alpha interferon, altretamine, amethopterin, amifostine, anagrelide, anastrozole, arabinosylcytosine, arsenic trioxide, amsacrine, am inocamptothecin, aminoglutethimide, asparaginase, azacytidine, bacillus calmette-guerin (BCG), bendamustine, bevacizumab, bexarotene, bicalutamide, bortezomib, bleomycin, busulfan, calcium leucovorin, citrovorum factor, capecitabine, canertinib, carboplatin, carmustine, cetuximab, chlorambucil, cisplatin, cladribine, cortisone, cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, darbepoetin alfa, dasatinib, daunomycin, decitabine, denileukin diftitox, dexamethasone, dexasone, dexrazoxane, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, decarbazine, docetaxel, doxorubicin, doxifluridine, eniluracil, epirubicin, epoetin alfa, erlotinib, everolimus, exemestane, estramustine, etoposide, filgrastim, fluoxymesterone, fulvestrant, flavopiridol, floxuridine, fludarabine, fluorouracil, flutamide, gefitinib, gemcitabine, gemtuzumab ozogamicin, goserelin, granulocyte—colony stimulating factor, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor, hexamethylmelamine, hydrocortisone hydroxyurea, ibritumomab, interferon alpha, interleukin-2, interleukin-11, isotretinoin, ixabepilone, idarubicin, imatinib mesylate, ifosfamide, irinotecan, lapatinib, lenalidomide, letrozole, leucovorin, leuprolide, liposomal Ara-C, lomustine, mechlorethamine, megestrol, melphalan, mercaptopurine, mesna, methotrexate, methylprednisolone, mitomycin C, mitotane, mitoxantrone, nelarabine, nilutamide, octreotide, oprelvekin, oxaliplatin, paclitaxel, palbociclib, pamidronate, pemetrexed, panitumumab, PEG Interferon, pegaspargase, pegfilgrastim, PEG-L-asparaginase, pentostatin, plicamycin, prednisolone, prednisone, procarbazine, proteasome inhibitors, raloxifene, rituximab, romiplostim, ralitrexed, sapacitabine, sargramostim, satraplatin, sorafenib, sunitinib, semustine, streptozocin, tamoxifen, tegafur, tegafur-uracil, temsirolimus, temozolamide, teniposide, thalidomide, thioguanine, thiotepa, topotecan, toremifene, tositumomab, trastuzumab, tretinoin, trim itrexate, alrubicin, vincristine, vinblastine, vindestine, vinorelbine, vorinostat, Wnt pathway inhibitors (e.g., iCRT3) or zoledronic acid.

Therapeutic antibodies and functional fragments thereof, that may be used as therapeutic agents in accordance with the embodiments of the disclosure include, but are not limited to, alemtuzumab, bevacizumab, cetuximab, edrecolomab, gemtuzumab, ibritumomab tiuxetan, panitumumab, rituximab, tositumomab, and trastuzumab and other antibodies associated with breast cancer.

Toxins that may be used as therapeutic agents in accordance with the embodiments of the disclosure include, but are not limited to, ricin, abrin, ribonuclease (RNase), DNase I, Staphylococcal enterotoxin-A, pokeweed antiviral protein, gelonin, diphtheria toxin, Pseudomonas exotoxin, and Pseudomonas endotoxin.

Radioisotopes that may be used as therapeutic agents in accordance with the embodiments of the disclosure include, but are not limited to, ³²P, ⁸⁹Sr, ⁹⁰Y, ^(99m)Tc, ⁹⁹Mo, ¹³¹I, ¹⁵³Sm, ¹⁷⁷Lu, ¹⁸⁶Re, ²¹³Bi, ²²³Ra, and ²²⁵Ac.

The treatment and administration steps described herein may include any suitable treatment used in accordance with standard practice for treatment of breast cancer. The treatment is not limited to any particular treatment. One skilled in the art will appreciate that any United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved therapeutic treatment or off-label treatment may be used in accordance with the methods provided herein.

As provided herein, a therapeutically effective amount or effective amount is an amount of a treatment that will yield the most effective results in terms of efficacy of treatment in a given subject or population of cells. This amount will vary depending upon a variety of factors, including but not limited to the characteristics of the treatment, the physiological condition of the subject (including age, sex, disease type and stage, general physical condition, responsiveness to a given dosage, and type of medication) or cells, the nature of the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or carriers in the formulation, and the route of administration. Further, an effective or therapeutically effective amount may vary depending on whether the treatment is administered alone or in combination with another compound, drug, therapy or other therapeutic method or modality. One skilled in the clinical and pharmacological arts will be able to determine an effective amount or therapeutically effective amount through routine experimentation, namely by monitoring a cell's or subject's response to administration of the treatment and adjusting the dosage accordingly. For additional guidance, see Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 21<st>Edition, Univ. of Sciences in Philadelphia (USIP), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, Pa., 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

The treatment as described herein may be administered by any suitable route of administration, alone or as part of a pharmaceutical composition. A route of administration may refer to any administration pathway known in the art, including but not limited to aerosol, enteral, nasal, ophthalmic, oral, parenteral, rectal, transdermal (e.g., topical cream or ointment, patch), or vaginal. “Transdermal” administration may be accomplished using a topical cream or ointment or by means of a transdermal patch. “Parenteral” refers to a route of administration that is generally associated with injection, including infraorbital, infusion, intraarterial, intracapsular, intracardiac, intradermal, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intrapulmonary, intraspinal, intrasternal, intrathecal, intrauterine, intravenous, subarachnoid, subcapsular, subcutaneous, transmucosal, or transtracheal.

In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition may also include a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A pharmaceutically acceptable carrier may be a pharmaceutically acceptable material, composition, or vehicle that is involved in carrying or transporting a compound of interest from one tissue, organ, or portion of the body to another tissue, organ, or portion of the body. For example, the carrier may be a liquid or solid filler, diluent, excipient, solvent, or encapsulating material, or some combination thereof. Each component of the carrier must be “pharmaceutically acceptable” in that it must be compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation. It also must be suitable for contact with any tissue, organ, or portion of the body that it may encounter, meaning that it must not carry a risk of toxicity, irritation, allergic response, immunogenicity, or any other complication that excessively outweighs its therapeutic benefits.

The following examples are intended to illustrate various embodiments of the invention. As such, the specific embodiments discussed are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various equivalents, changes, and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of invention, and it is understood that such equivalent embodiments are to be included herein. Further, all references cited in the disclosure are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, as if fully set forth herein.

Having described the invention with reference to the embodiments and illustrative examples, those in the art may appreciate modifications to the invention as described and illustrated that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the specification. The examples are set forth to aid in understanding the invention but are not intended to, and should not be construed to, limit its scope in any way. The examples do not include detailed descriptions of conventional methods. Such methods are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and are described in numerous publications. All references cited above and below in the specification are incorporated by reference in their entirety, as if fully set forth herein.

Example 1: FOXC1 is a Prognostic Biomarker with Functional Significance in Basal-Like Breast Cancer

Gene expression signatures for a basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) subtype have been associated with poor clinical outcomes. As described below, overexpression of the transcription factor FOXC1 is shown to be a consistent feature of BLBC compared with other molecular subtypes of breast cancer. Elevated FOXC1 expression predicted poor overall survival in BLBC (P=0.0001), independently of other clinicopathologic prognostic factors including lymph node status, along with a higher incidence of brain metastasis (P=0.02) and a shorter brain metastasis-free survival in lymph node-negative patients (P<0.0001). Ectopic overexpression of FOXC1 in breast cancer cells increased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, whereas shRNA-mediated FOXC1 knockdown yielded opposite effects. These findings identify FOXC1 as a theranostic biomarker that is specific for BLBC, offering not only a potential prognostic candidate but also a potential molecular therapeutic target in this breast cancer subtype.

Materials and Methods

Microarray Analysis. Publicly available datasets of human breast cancer gene expression microarrays (Richardson et al. 2006; Farmer et al. 2005; Hess et al. 2006; Ivshina et al. 2006; Miller et al. 2005; van de Vijver et al. 2002; Herschkowitz et al. 2007; Sorlie et al. 2003; Wang et al. 2005; Pawitan et al. 2005) comprising of raw expression level data files and the ExpO Project database of the International Genomics Consortium (IGC) at https://expo.intgen.org were downloaded were analyzed using Genespring GX 10.0 software (Agilent Technologies) (see Table 1 below). A total of 2,073 breast cancer patient samples were analyzed. For cDNA arrays (3 of 11 data sets), the log₂ normalized signal intensity values were directly imported into the Genespring software platform, obtained from the respective public web repository. For microarray raw data obtained from Affymetrix arrays (8 of 11 data sets), signal intensities were obtained using the Robust Multi-chip Averaging (RMA) algorithm to perform background correction, normalization and summarization of probe-level raw data. All values underwent baseline transformation to median of all samples in a particular dataset on a (per gene)/(per probe) set basis.

TABLE 1 Summary of analyzed microarray datasets. Reference Sample Complete IHC Survival No. Array Name Platform Technology Size Data Analysis ExpO Affymetrix U133 plus 2.0 250 − − 9 Richardson et al. Affymetrix U133 plus 2.0 47 − − 10 Farmer et al. Affymetrix U133A 49 − − 11 Hess et al. Affymetrix U133A 133 + − 12 Ivshina et al. Affymetrix U133A 249 − − 13 Miller et al. Affymetrix U133A 251 − − 14 van de Vijver et al. cDNA 295 − + 15 Herschkowitz et al. cDNA 232 − + 16 Sorlie et al. cDNA 122 − + 17 Wang et al. Affymetrix U133A 286 − + 18 Pawitan et al. Affymetrix U133A 159 − +

All microarray datasets used in this study are from publicly available databases, and such databases require that the gene expression raw data, deposited by the original investigators, meet stringent quality control criteria prior to acceptance. Furthermore, each dataset has been earlier reported in the literature and individual quality control measures are reported in the original references. As such, in the present study, quality control measures were taken to confirm prior established data quality, rather than as an initial step to document data quality. Array quality control was performed using 3D Principal Component Analysis (PCA) plots, Internal Controls comprising of 3′/5′ ratios for a set of specific housekeeping gene probe sets, and Hybridization Controls. A 3′/5′ ratio of greater than 3 was considered to be unacceptable (representative of either degraded starting RNA or problem with the cDNA synthesis reaction). The signal intensities of pre-mixed hybridization control transcripts added to the hybridization mix in known staggered concentrations should increase as expected with the known staggered concentrations. Deviation from the expected intensity profile of these controls, as assessed by visual inspection of Hybridization Control plots, was considered to be unacceptable (representative of a problem either with the hybridization or washing process). Based on these criteria, only one array (from the Richardson et al. dataset) among a total of 2,073 examined arrays was removed. The PCA scores of each array were plotted in 3D in order to examine the clustering pattern of samples. Three major clusters were observed in each dataset, consistent with the expected biologic variation in this population resulting in segregation into the three molecular subtypes—luminal, HER2 and basal-like. Probes from the spotted arrays were filtered based on flag values. Otherwise they were filtered based on signal intensity values so that values between 20.0 and 100.0 percentiles in a given dataset were retained.

For identification of the molecular subtypes, we employed the commonly used 306-member Intrinsic Gene Set (IGS) (Hu et al. 2006). Only 293 genes of the original 306-gene panel were represented on the microarray platform of our test dataset that was selected based on its inclusion of normal breast tissue samples (Richardson et al 2006). We subjected all datasets to a hierarchical clustering algorithm employing a Pearson uncentered similarity metric and the average linkage rule based on the 293-gene IGS. Datasets were then clustered into luminal A/B, HER2, and basal-like subtypes based on IGS. In the Richardson et al. dataset, 12 samples were excluded as they were derived from normal organoid preparations and not normal breast tissue, 4 BRCA positive samples were excluded to reduce bias, 1 sample was excluded for not meeting quality control standards and 1 sample classified by the authors as basal-like clustered with the luminal subtype and was thus excluded from the analysis.

To determine the correlation between FOXC1 and triple-negative status, we searched for publicly available datasets that contained complete ER, PR, and HER2 expression profiles of each breast cancer specimen based on immunohistochemical analysis. Only one such dataset (Hess et al.) was identified (Hess et al. 2006).

Average relative mRNA levels (mean log₂ signal intensity) for each IGS gene and for reported markers of BLBC in the literature (αB-crystallin (Moyano et al. 2006), moesin (Charafe-Jauffret et al. 2007), CD109 (Hasegawa et al. 2008), p-Cadherin, EGFR (Nielsen et al. 2004), CK5 (Nielsen et al. 2004; Korsching et al. 2008), CK14 (Korsching et al. 2008), CK17 (Korsching et al. 2008), c-Kit (Nielsen et al. 2004), ITGB4 (Lu et al. 2008), and FOXC2 (Mani et al. 2007)) were determined according to molecular subtype. Expression values for some genes were not normally distributed for which reason we employed nonparametric analysis (Mann-Whitney Test) in comparing Basal-like group vs. pooled non-Basal-like group expression values (log₂ normalized signal intensity) for each gene. All statistical analyses were performed using SAS software (Version 9.1.3, SAS Institute, Cary, N.C.). A stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the gene most characteristic of the basal-like group. In view of the small sample size of the Richardson et al. dataset (with highly predictive covariates resulting in non-convergence), Firth's modified logistic regression analysis used to reduce the bias of maximum likelihood estimation in this array. Statistical significance for each of these analyses was defined as P<0.05. To maintain statistical power, each dataset was analyzed independently as shown below in Tables 2-5.

TABLE 2 Statistical analysis of biomarker in molecular subgroups classified by IGS in the Richardson et al. breast cancer microarray dataset (2). Univariate Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test Multivariate Normal Luminal HER2 Basal-like (Basal-like Logistic Mean ± SD Mean ± SD Mean ± SD Mean ± SD vs. Other) Regression Gene (Median) (Median) (Median) (Median) P-value P-value† FOXC1 −0.11 ± 0.73 (−0.23) −1.63 ± 0.38 (−1.60) −0.99 ± 0.71 (−1.03) 3.61 ± 0.75 (3.63) <0.0001 0.0006 CRYAB −1.87 ± 0.39 (1.87) −1.61 ± 1.11 (−1.66) −1.82 ± 0.78 (−1.93) 1.34 ± 1.30 (1.27) 0.001 NS KRT5 2.98 ± 0.38 (2.72) −1.17 ± 0.98 (−1.32) −1.35 ± 1.02 (−1.31) 0.81 ± 1.48 (1.14) NS NS KIT 3.08 ± 0.47 (3.07) −0.93 ± 0.88 (−1.03) −1.21 ± 0.76 (−1.16) 0.60 ± 1.22 (0.32) NS NS CDH3 1.21 ± 0.43 (1.35) −1.13 ± 0.66 (−1.40) −0.11 ± 0.92 (−0.20) 0.64 ± 1.24 (0.97) 0.036 NS MSN 0.18 ± 0.33 (0.15) −0.32 ± 0.61 (−0.41) −0.57 ± 0.44 (−0.51) 0.60 ± 0.88 (0.70) 0.002 NS KRT17 2.84 ± 0.25 (2.81) −1.03 ± 0.80 (−1.05) −0.79 ± 1.13 (−0.95) 0.92 ± 1.78 (1.05) NS NS EGFR 0.32 ± 0.40 (0.39) −0.50 ± 0.30 (−0.51) 0.02 ± 0.67 (0.19) 0.25 ± 0.55 (0.27) 0.044 NS KRT14 3.44 ± 0.51 (3.60) −1.30 ± 1.84 (−0.82) −2.15 ± 1.82 (−1.49) 0.69 ± 2.53 (0.59) NS NS CD109 −0.46 ± 0.62 (−0.25) −0.45 ± 0.91 (−0.19) −0.77 ± 1.02 (−1.08) 0.46 ± 0.98 (0.63) 0.004 NS ITGB4 0.40 ± 0.39 (0.34) −0.32 ± 0.35 (−0.37) 0.24 ± 0.74 (0.01) 0.19 ± 0.87 (0.13) NS NS FOXC2 0.09 ± 0.13 (0.07) −0.01 ± 0.20 (−0.03) −0.01 ± 0.16 (0.03) 0.04 ± 0.26 (0.01) NS NS Values in each molecular subtype column are the mean ± SD of the log2 normalized signal intensity for the best representative cDNA probe for that gene. NS, P > 0.05. †Firth's modified logistic regression analysis used to reduce the bias of maximum likelihood estimation in this array (characterized by small sample size with highly predictive covariates resulting in non-convergence). Basal-like (yes = 1, no = 0) was used as a dependent variable.

TABLE 3 Statistical analysis of biomarker in molecular subgroups classified by IGS in the Ivshina et al. breast cancer microarray dataset (14). Univariate Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test Multivariate Luminal Basal-like (Basal-like vs. Logistic Mean ± SD HER2 Mean ± SD Other) Regression Gene (Median) Mean ± SD (Median) (Median) P-value P-value FOXC1 0.02 ± 0.27 (−0.01) 0.00 ± 0.28 (−0.05) 1.88 ± 0.71 (1.92) <0.0001 0.0033 CDH3 −0.06 ± 0.76 (−0.18) 0.90 ± 0.84 (0.73) 1.94 ± 0.92 (2.07) <0.0001 010199 CRYAB −0.03 ± 0.79 (−0.06) −0.30 ± 0.44 (−0.40) 1.94 ± 1.23 (2.20) <0.0001 NS EGFR −0.05 ± 0.94 (−0.17) 0.41 ± 0.86 (0.28) 1.20 ± 0.57 (1.15) <0.0001 NS KRT17 0.13 ± 0.99 (−0.11) 0.51 ± 1.10 (0.09) 2.06 ± 1.54 (1.99) <0.0001 NS KRT5 0.09 ± 1.08 (−0.21) 0.12 ± 0.85 (0.00) 2.20 ± 1.34 (2.20) <0.0001 NS MSN −0.10 ± 0.48 (−0.04) 0.06 ± 0.35 (−0.12) 0.74 ± 0.42 (0.82) <0.0001 NS ITGB4 −0.03 ± 0.44 (−0.07) 0.28 ± 0.46 (0.35) 0.45 ± 0.65 (0.26) 0.0016 NS KIT 0.11 ± 1.00 (0.00) −0.27 ± 0.87 (−0.46) 1.07 ± 1.45 (1.25) 0.0011 NS KRT14 −0.24 ± 1.96 (−0.15) −0.30 ± 1.47 (−0.57) 1.99 ± 2.08 (1.55) 0.0001 NS FOXC2 0.00 ± 0.17 (0.00) 0.05 ± 0.16 (0.05) 0.07 ± 0.26 (0.02) NS NS Values in each molecular subtype column are the mean ± SD of the log2 normalized signal intensity for the best representative cDNA probe for that gene. NS, P > 0.05. * CD109 does not have any representative probes on this microarray platform. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, dependent variable is basal-like.

TABLE 4 Statistical analysis of biomarker in molecular subgroups classified by IGS in the Miller et al. breast cancer microarray dataset (15). Univariate Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test Multivariate Luminal HER2 Basal-like (Basal-like vs. Logistic Mean ± SD Mean ± SD Mean ± SD Other) Regression Gene (Median) (Median) (Median) P-value P-value FOXC1  0.02 ± 0.28 (−0.01) −0.04 ± 0.29 (−0.12) 1.86 ± 0.71 (1.90) <0.0001 0.0003 CDH3 −0.05 ± 0.76 (−0.16) 0.87 ± 0.94 (0.75) 1.95 ± 0.91 (2.09) <0.0001 0.0153 KRT17  0.13 ± 1.01 (−0.09) 0.48 ± 1.11 (0.08) 2.05 ± 1.54 (1.99) <0.0001 NS EGFR −0.04 ± 0.94 (−0.17) 0.39 ± 0.88 (0.08) 1.21 ± 0.57 (1.16) <0.0001 NS MSN −0.09 ± 0.47 (−0.03) −0.13 ± 0.42 (−0.19) 0.74 ± 0.42 (0.82) <0.0001 NS CRYAB −0.01 ± 0.78 (−0.05) −0.38 ± 0.48 (−0.41) 1.94 ± 1.24 (2.20) <0.0001 NS KRT5  0.10 ± 1.08 (−0.16) 0.07 ± 0.88 (0.00) 2.19 ± 1.33 (2.18) <0.0001 NS KRT14 −0.26 ± 1.96 (−0.14) −0.40 ± 1.50 (−0.61) 1.94 ± 2.07 (1.50) <0.0001 NS ITGB4 −0.02 ± 0.45 (−0.07) 0.21 ± 0.46 (0.27) 0.45 ± 0.65 (0.26) 0.002 NS KIT 0.12 ± 1.01 (0.01) −0.27 ± 0.86 (−0.43) 1.07 ± 1.45 (1.25) 0.001 NS FOXC2 0.00 ± 0.17 (0.00) 0.03 ± 0.18 (0.05) 0.06 ± 0.26 (0.02) NS NS Values in each molecular subtype column are the mean ± SD of the log2 normalized signal intensity for the best representative cDNA probe for that gene. NS, P > 0.05. * CD109 does not have any representative probes on this microarray platform. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, dependent variable is basal-like.

TABLE 5 Statistical analysis of biomarker in molecular subgroups classified by IGS in the van de Vijver et al. breast cancer microarray dataset (16). Univariate Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test Multivariate Luminal HER2 Basal-like (Basal-like vs. Logistic Mean ± SD Mean ± SD Mean ± SD Other) Regression Gene (Median) (Median) (Median) P-value P-value FOXC1 −0.51 ± 0.21 (−0.50) −0.41 ± 0.21 (−0.41) 0.49 ± 0.42 (0.58) <.0001 0.0028 CRYAB −0.36 ± 0.24 (−0.36) −0.29 ± 0.19 (−0.29) 0.27 ± 0.47 (0.28) <.0001 NS KRT5 −0.56 ± 0.40 (−0.50) −0.45 ± 0.42 (−0.28) 0.16 ± 0.56 (0.10) <.0001 0.0084 KIT −0.17 ± 0.24 (−0.16) −0.22 ± 0.25 (−0.19) 0.05 ± 0.34 (0.05) <.0001 NS CDH3 −0.49 ± 0.29 (−0.49) −0.14 ± 0.38 (−0.15) 0.32 ± 0.31 (0.37) <.0001 NS MSN −0.14 ± 0.17 (−0.13) −0.05 ± 0.16 (−0.06) 0.21 ± 0.14 (0.24) <.0001 NS KRT17 −0.33 ± 0.28 (−0.35) −0.22 ± 0.39 (−0.14) 0.21 ± 0.46 (0.17) <.0001 NS EGFR −0.05 ± 0.14 (−0.05) −0.01 ± 0.15 (−0.03) 0.07 ± 0.21 (0.06) <.0001 NS KRT14 −0.10 ± 0.12 (−0.11) −0.08 ± 0.13 (−0.11) 0.08 ± 0.30 (0.02) 0.0001 NS ITGB4 −0.03 ± 0.12 (−0.03) 0.10 ± 0.14 (0.08) 0.12 ± 0.19 (0.12) <.0001 NS Values in each molecular subtype column are the mean ± SD of the log2 normalized signal intensity for the best representative cDNA probe for that gene. NS, P > 0.05. * FOXC2 and CD109 do not have any representative probes on this microarray platform. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, dependent variable is basal-like.

For simplicity of data interpretation, normal breast-like group was not included in the analysis. The normal breast-like group resembles normal breast tissue samples with relatively high expression of genes characteristic of adipose cells and other non-epithelial cell types and low expression of luminal epithelial cell genes. Because the normal-like classification was developed by training on normal breast tissue, it has been speculated that the normal-like subgroup may be mainly an artifact of having a high percentage of normal “contamination” in tumor specimens (Parker et al. 2009). Other explanations include a group of slow-growing basal-like tumors that lack the expression of proliferation genes or a potential new subtype called claudin-low tumors (Herschkowitz et al. 2007). In addition, only some of the datasets used in our analysis contain normal-like samples. FOXC1 was not found to be overexpressed in these samples (data not shown).

Gene Signature Analysis. With the intent of developing a gene signature associated with FOXC1 gene expression capable of accurately detecting the basal-like subtype independent of IGS, the test dataset that included normal breast tissue samples was first analyzed (2). Genes that shared coordinate upregulation and genes that shared coordinate downregulation with FOXC1 upregulation were both included. Supervised stringent inclusion criteria were used based on degree of Pearson correlation coefficients (1.0>r>0.5 for genes with coordinate upregulation and −1.0<r<−0.5 for genes with coordinate downregulation, respectively). Only those genes that maintained their high degree of correlation with FOXC1, independent of their individual correlations with breast cancer subtypes, were included in the final panel and validated in a total of 5 individually analysed microarray datasets (Richardson et al. 2006; Farmer et al. 2005; Ivshina et al. 2006; Miller et al. 2005-2, 13-15) and the ExpO Project Database of the International Genomics Consortium (IGC) at https://expo.intgen.org). The 30 genes that met the inclusion criteria while still allowing for maximal applicability across earlier generation microarray platforms (i.e. ranking in the top 30 genes associated with FOXC1 expression in 3 or more of the 5 datasets) are collectively referred to as the FOXC1 gene signature (Table 6).

TABLE 6 Pearson correlation coefficients of the 30 genes associated with FOXC1 gene expression in five microarray datasets (2, 13-15). Dataset Gene Richardson Farmer Ivshina Miller No. Symbol et al. ExpO et al. et al. et al. Frequency* 1 FOXC1 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 5 2 OGFRL1 0.86 0.50 0.49 0.65 0.66 4 3 ROPN1B 0.83 0.75 0.80 0.73 0.73 5 4 ART3 0.83 0.65 0.59 0.63 0.64 5 5 FABP7 0.82 0.39 0.40 0.57 0.60 3 6 C10orf38 0.82 0.65 0.70 0.72 0.72 5 7 EN1 0.81 0.74 0.80 0.74 0.73 5 8 KCNK5 0.80 0.63 0.64 0.65 0.64 5 9 CHODL 0.80 0.60 0.54 0.56 0.57 5 10 PRKX 0.80 0.55 0.73 0.66 0.66 5 11 C21orf91 0.79 0.56 0.39 0.52 0.53 4 12 GABRP 0.78 0.70 0.77 0.74 0.74 5 13 ELF5 0.77 0.65 0.63 0.61 0.61 5 14 PAPSS1 0.77 0.48 0.47 0.54 0.54 3 15 ACTR3B 0.77 0.64 0.63 0.55 0.55 5 16 LMO4 0.76 0.41 0.59 0.65 0.64 4 17 ZIC1 0.75 0.53 0.61 0.39 0.39 3 18 UGT8 0.75 0.64 0.46 0.60 0.60 4 19 MICALL1 0.75 0.70 0.78 0.64 0.64 5 20 FOXA1 −0.87 −0.75 −0.81 −0.82 −0.82 5 21 MLPH −0.86 −0.70 −0.78 −0.69 −0.69 5 22 SIDT1 −0.84 −0.58 −0.73 −0.56 −0.55 5 23 AGR2 −0.83 −0.67 −0.71 −0.59 −0.59 5 24 SPDEF −0.81 −0.64 −0.72 −0.79 −0.78 5 25 TFF3 −0.80 −0.53 −0.67 −0.46 −0.45 3 26 AR −0.80 −0.50 −0.56 −0.58 −0.59 5 27 TBC1D9 −0.79 −0.62 −0.66 −0.66 −0.66 5 28 CA12 −0.78 −0.60 −0.66 −0.66 −0.66 5 29 GATA3 −0.77 −0.56 −0.71 −0.70 −0.70 5 30 GALNT6 −0.75 −0.53 −0.66 −0.52 −0.51 5 *Frequency denotes the number of datasets in which the correlation of individual genes with FOXC1 expression is present (>0.50 for coordinately upregulated genes, and <−0.50 for coordinately downregulated genes, respectively).

To validate the ability of this gene signature to identify basal-like breast cancer, in addition to the aforementioned 5 datasets used to refine the gene signature, another 6 publicly available human breast cancer Affymetrix and cDNA microarray datasets were individually tested (Hess et al. 2006; Herschkowitz et al. 2007; van de Vijver et al. 2002; Sorlie et al. 2003; Wang et al. 2005; Pawitan et al. 2005) representing analysis in a total of 2,073 breast cancer patients. All datasets were subjected to a hierarchical clustering algorithm employing a Pearson uncentered similarity metric and the average linkage rule based on the 30-member FOXC1 gene signature. Extent of correct classification of breast cancer samples as belonging to the basal-like subtype was compared to those classified based on IGS.

Survival Analysis. Next, the potential prognostic importance of FOXC1 mRNA expression in breast cancer was determined, with particular reference to assessing its ability to correctly predict the survival of patients with basal-like breast cancer. This analysis was performed with the intent to determine whether FOXC1 mRNA expression could be used as a stand alone, individual prognostic biomarker for basal-like breast cancer instead of pathologic, immunohistochemical and/or molecular classifiers such as IGS. A 295-sample breast cancer oligonucleotide microarray dataset (van de Vijver et al. 2002) with follow-up data extending over a 20 year period was subjected to analysis. The prognostic significance of FOXC1 was also examined in three additional human breast cancer cDNA datasets: A 232-sample dataset (Herschkowitz et al. 2007), a 122-sample dataset (Sorlie et. al. 2003), and a 159-sample dataset (Pawitan et al. 2005). Survival distributions were estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods and compared using the log-rank test. In multivariate survival analyses, Cox proportional hazard regression model was used incorporating phenotype status (basal-like versus non-basal-like), FOXC1 level, age, tumor size, tumor grade, and lymph node status as possible predictors of survival. Proportional hazard assumption was validated using residual plots and proportionality tests. The relative prognostic significance of two separate prognostic models was evaluated by comparing the model fit after adjusting for clinicopathologic variables. One model was based on dichotomous expression of FOXC1 mRNA levels. The other model was based on the IGS-derived basal-like cluster following hierarchical clustering. The relative prognostic significance of each model was measured using Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) to assess the fit of the two regression models (Akaike 1974).

Association with metastasis to the brain or bone was examined in lymph node-negative breast cancer patients in the Wang et al. data set (Wang et al. 2005). The Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to assess statistical significance for this comparison. Brain specific and bone-specific metastasis-free survival was also examined in the same data set. Univariate and multivariate analyses were done using log-rank test and Cox regression model, respectively. Variables included in the multivariate analysis were selected based on statistical significance in initial univariate analysis and included age, tumor size, and lymph node status. Survival plots were created using Kaplan-Meier methods.

Immunohistochemistry and Immunoblotting Immunohistochemistry was performed using a peroxidase detection system with human breast cancer tissue microarrays BRC961 and BR962 (US Biomax) and a polyclonal FOXC1 antibody that does not recognize FOXC2 (Lifespan Biosciences). Antibody concentration (1:100) was determined by serial titration and optimisation of the antibody on test arrays. Briefly, after antigen retrieval, primary antibodies were added, followed by a biotinylated secondary antibody incubation, which then binds to peroxidase-conjugated streptavidin. The signal was developed with diaaminobenzidine as the chromogen with hematoxylin as counterstain. The immunostained slides were evaluated microscopically by estimating the proportion and average intensity of positive tumor cells with nuclear and/or cytoplasmic staining. Immunohistochemical analysis was also performed on 42 triple-negative human breast cancer specimens obtained from the Saint John's Health Center Department of Pathology and John Wayne Cancer Institute tissue bank in accordance with Institutional Review Board approval. Immunoblotting was performed using an antibody from Santa Cruz Biotechnology. Whole cell lysates for western blotting were generated by cell lysis buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 2 mM EDTA, 1% NP-40, 10% glycerol) supplemented with a protease inhibitor cocktail (Sigma, St Louis, Mo.). Equal amounts of protein were separated by 10% SDS-PAGE and then transferred onto a nitrocellulose membrane. The remaining steps were conducted according to a standard immunoblotting protocol.

Results and Discussion

Gene expression analysis of publicly available human breast cancer microarray data sets revealed that the Forkhead-box transcription factor FOXC1, essential for mesoderm tissue development, had significantly higher expression in the basal-like subgroup than in other subtypes (FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2 and 3A-C). High FOXC1 expression correlated positively and significantly with the basal-like subgroup, as shown in Tables 2-5 above. Elevated FOXC1 mRNA expression was also associated with triple-negative breast cancer, consistent with the notion that 60% to 90% of triple-negative breast cancers are basal-like (FIGS. 1C and 3D). A 30-gene FOXC1 signature was derived from correlation with FOXC1 expression in six data sets (Table 6, above) and validated in five separate data sets. These genes displayed an overall expression profile that coincided with the basal-like subgroup clustered by IGS (FIGS. 1D and 4). Conversely, hierarchical clustering using the FOXC1 gene signature identified the same basal-like subgroup determined by IGS (FIG. 5). Whereas pathway analysis of this gene signature did not yield a dominant pathway (data not shown), some members such as FABP7, GABRP, EN1, KCNKS, ZIC1, ACTR3B, and FOXC1 are notably involved in brain development and brain tumorigenesis, which explains why BLBC preferentially metastasizes to the brain.

FOXC1 protein expression was then evaluated using immunohistochemistry on breast cancer tissue microarrays (TMA). Strong nuclear FOXC1 staining was found in triple-negative TMA samples expressing basal cytokeratins (CK5/6+ and/or CK14+; FIG. 6A) but not in non-triple-negative tumors (data not shown). Cytoplasmic staining of FOXC1 was rare, and it was normally concomitant with nuclear staining of FOXC1. This pattern of subcellular localization was confirmed in an independent cohort of 42 archived triple-negative breast cancer specimens. Positive expression of FOXC1 (FOXC1+) was associated significantly with expression of basal cytokeratins (FIG. 6B) and displayed a sensitivity of 0.81 and a specificity of 0.80 in detecting the basal-like phenotype identified by positive staining of CK5/6 and/or CK14. Absence of CK staining in some FOXC1+/ER−/PR−/HER2− samples in this cohort may reflect inconsistent expression of these cytokeratins in BLBCs defined by expression arrays (Nielsen et al. 2004). The finding that nuclear FOXC1 was consistently detected by immunohistochemistry despite its short protein half-life (<30 minutes; Berry et al. 2006) suggest a robust constitutive expression of FOXC1 in BLBC. Analysis of a microarray data set for a human breast cancer cell line panel revealed higher FOXC1 expression in BLBC cell lines (FIG. 7), which was confirmed by immunoblotting (FIG. 6C).

The prognostic significance of FOXC1 in breast cancer was next examined in the 295-sample van de Vijver et al. data set (van de Vijver et al. 2002). In univariate analysis, overall survival was significantly worse in tumors identified using the 30-gene FOXC1 signature (P=0.0004) or using elevated FOXC1 mRNA levels alone (P=0.0001; FIG. 8A). Overall survival decreased by 35% for each unit increase of relative FOXC1 mRNA levels. In multivariate analysis, FOXC1 was an independent prognostic indicator of overall survival after adjusting for clinicopathologic variables such as age, tumor size, and lymph node status (hazard ratio, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.52; P=0.02). Akaike information criteria (AIC; Akaike 1974) were used in comparing the fit of the two separate prognostic models after adjusting for clinicopathologic variables. The model based on FOXC1 mRNA expression (AIC, 820.0) was similar to the model based on the IGS-derived basal-like cluster (AIC, 815) in terms of the model fit predicting survival. The association of FOXC1 with overall survival was also shown in the 232-sample Herschkowitz et al. (Herschkowitz et al. 2007), 122-sample Sorlie et al. (Sorlie et al. 2003), and 159-sample Pawitan et al. (Pawitan et al. 2005) data sets (FIG. 9). Furthermore, the FOXC1 gene signature and mRNA levels, like the basal-like phenotype, allowed prognostic stratification of lymph node-negative breast cancers (P=0.0003) in the van de Vijver et al. data set (an de Vijver et al. 2002; FIG. 8B). In addition, elevated FOXC1 expression, which was positively associated with brain metastasis (P=0.02) and inversely associated with bone metastasis (P=0.0002) in the 286-sample Wang et al. data set (Wang et al. 2005), significantly correlated with shorter brain metastasis-free survival (P<0.0001; FIGS. 8C and D).

Example 2: Quantitative Measurement of FOXC1 Expression Using RT-PCR can be Used to Accurately Diagnose Basal-Like Breast Cancer

Gene expression analysis has classified breast cancer into five molecular subtypes. Basal-like breast cancer comprises up to 15%-25% of all breast cancers and is associated with the worst overall survival. As described in the example above, FOXC1 is a theranostic biomarker specific for basal-like breast cancer. Semi-quantitative measurement of FOXC1 expression (microarray and immunohistochemistry) has been shown as a reliable method to diagnose basal-like breast cancer. These findings may be extended and further refined by assessing FOXC1 expression using qRT-PCR to provide a more quantitatively accurate assay for diagnosing basal-like breast cancer.

Quantitative RT-PCR gene expression data from 279 formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) breast tumors were obtained from a publicly available database (J Clin Oncol. 2009 Mar. 10; 27(8):1160). The receiver operating curve-area under the curve (ROC-AUC) was determined for FOXC1. A cut-off level was determined to optimize sensitivity and specificity.

The ROC-AUC for FOXC1 expression (FIG. 10) in predicting basal-like breast cancer was 0.807. A 74% sensitivity and 78% specificity for identifying basal-like breast cancer was shown when using the 0.437 (49^(th) percentile) cut-off level for FOXC1 expression using qRT-PCR.

Quantitative RT-PCR assessment of FOXC1 is thus proven to be a reliable assay to accurately diagnose basal-like breast cancer. Quantitative RT-PCR assessment of FOXC1 from FFPE breast tumors is proposed to be a useful adjunct to semi-quantitative assays (microarray and immunohistochemistry) for the diagnosis of basal-like breast cancer in routine clinical practice.

Example 3: Prognostic Significance of FOXC1 in Breast Cancer Molecular Subtype Models Utilizing Immunohistochemical Biomarkers

In the studies described herein, the Forkhead-box transcription factor FOXC1, essential for mesoderm tissue development, was been shown to be consistently overexpressed at both the mRNA and protein levels in BLBC. Elevated FOXC1 mRNA expression was associated with poor overall survival, independent of other clinicopathologic prognostic variables, including lymph node status. True to a predilection for brain metastasis displayed by patients with BLBC, high FOXC1 mRNA levels were also found to correlate with the incidence of brain metastasis and with significantly shortened brain-metastasis free survival in lymph node negative patients. Furthermore, engineered, ectopic overexpression of FOXC1 in breast cancer cells induced aggressive phenotypic changes such as increased cellular proliferation, migration and invasion. Knockdown of FOXC1 using shRNA in breast cancer cells with high endogenous levels of FOXC1 demonstrated loss of aggressive phenotypic features. These results suggest that FOXC1 is a specific prognostic biomarker for BLBC and plays an important role in regulating aggressive cellular traits associated with this molecular subtype. It may also serve as a suitable target for personalized therapy of patients diagnosed with BLBC. These findings utilizing gene expression profiling strongly support the prognostic significance of FOXC1 mRNA expression in breast cancer. According to the study described below, this finding is translated or corroborated using assays of protein expression, such as immunohistochemistry (IHC). Such an assay would be practical and relevant for implementation into routine clinical practice.

Currently, breast cancer receptor status (ER, PR and HER2) is widely used to perform prognostic stratification. Recent reports have suggested using additional surrogate IHC markers of BLBC in combination to improve prognostic stratification (Rakha et al. 2009; Nielsen et al. 2004; Cheang et al. 2008; Elsheikh et al. 2008). Therefore, three biomarker-based models of prognostic stratification in breast cancer were compared: 1) the classic 3-biomarker panel comprising of ER, PR and HER2, 2) a 5-biomarker panel comprising of the above receptors in combination with traditional basal-like biomarkers, basal CK5/6 and CK14, and 3) a 4-biomarker panel comprising of ER, PR, and HER2, in combination with FOXC1.

The primary objective of this study was to establish whether the FOXC1 IHC assay has prognostic value in breast cancer. The secondary objective was to compare the prognostic value of molecular subtype models using surrogate IHC biomarkers in breast cancer.

Methods

Patients.

Review of a prospectively acquired institutional database identified 904 patients with primary infiltrating ductal breast cancer diagnosed between Jan. 1, 1995 and Dec. 31, 2004. Patients who were diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer at initial presentation and who did not undergo primary surgical therapy at John Wayne Cancer Center institution were excluded from the analysis.

Translational Study Design.

This translational study was performed with institutional review board approval and is reported according to the Reporting Recommendations for Tumor Marker Prognostic Studies (REMARK) (McShane et al. 2005). Laboratory personnel, who remained blinded to patient clinical data and outcomes, performed all IHC assays. Assay results were interpreted and scored by a single pathologist (JMS) who remained blinded to the clinical and pathologic data. The design and statistical plan were finalized before merging the above generated assay results with the clinical data, prior to performance of data analysis.

Immunohistochemistry Protocols.

A board-certified pathologist fellowship trained in breast pathology (JMS), who remained blinded to the clinical and pathologic data reviewed IHC (ER, PR, HER2) slides selected randomly from each pre-designated group of patients based on receptor status. Approximately 20% of the study cohort had such verification of receptor status performed. This was done as an internal quality control measure to ensure that the ER, PR and HER2 status of patients at the time of performance of this study was in agreement with that initially rendered at the time of initial diagnosis. No significant difference was encountered in the course of this quality control exercise. Biomarker expression status based on IHC assays was scored using criteria from published guidelines. ER and PR status were considered positive if immunostaining was seen in >10% of tumor nuclei. HER2 status was considered positive if immunostaining was scored as 3+ according to HercepTest criteria. For an equivocal result (2+), HER2 status was considered positive if the fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) assay revealed a HER2: chromosome 17 amplification ratio ≥2.2 (Yaziji et al. 2004).

Archival formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks for patients designated to be triple-negative with respect to hormone receptor status, i.e., for those who were ER⁻/PR⁻/HER2⁻ were then obtained. Tissue blocks were sectioned into serial 5 μm thick tissue sections and subjected to IHC analysis for CK5/6 (D5 and 1664, Cell Marque Corp, Rocklin, Calif.; no dilution), CK 14 (VP-C410, Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, Calif.; dilution 1:20) and FOXC1 (Ray et al. 2010). Semiquantitative analysis was performed by one pathologist (JMS) blinded to clinical and pathological data who scored the intensity of immunoreactivity on a scale of 0 (no staining) to 3 (strong staining). CK5/6 and CK14 stains were considered positive if any cytoplasmic and/or membranous invasive carcinoma cellular staining was observed (Nielsen et al 2004). FOXC1 protein expression status was considered positive only if any nuclear staining of tumor cells was observed (Ray et al. 2010).

Immunohistochemcial Definition of Breast Cancer Molecular Subtypes.

For purposes of this study, breast cancer molecular subtypes were defined utilizing surrogate IHC biomarker panels as has been earlier reported (Nielsen et al. 2004). ER and HER2 status were used to define luminal (ER⁺/HER2⁻), luminal/HER2⁺ (ER⁺/HER2⁺), HER2⁺ (ER⁻/HER2⁺) and basal-like (ER⁻/HER2⁻) molecular subtypes. In addition to assessing the prognostic significance of FOXC1 protein expression in breast cancer, the prognostic significance of three separate surrogate IHC biomarker panels was also compared and used to define BLBC: 1) the triple negative phenotype or TNP, defining BLBC as being negative for the routinely tested receptor biomarkers ER, PR and HER2, 2) a 5-biomarker panel comprising of TNP combined with CK5/6 and CK14, defining BLBC as being negative for ER, PR and HER2 and positive for either CK5/6 and/or CK14 expression, and 3) a 4-biomarker panel comprising of TNP and FOXC1, defining BLBC as being negative for ER, PR and HER2 and positive for FOXC1 protein expression. In the 5-biomarker and 4-biomarker models, the subset of TNP patients negative for all biomarkers are referred to as 5NP and 4NP, respectively.

Statistical Analysis.

All statistical analyses were performed using SAS (version 9.1.3, SAS, Cary, N.C.). Criteria used to determine positive or negative status of a specific biomarker were determined prior to performing any statistical analysis. Analysis of categorical variables was performed using χ² test and Fisher's exact test. The Mann-Whitney U test was employed to compare non-normal continuos variables. For survival analysis, overall survival (OS) was the outcome measure used. Survival time was calculated as the date of diagnosis until the date of death. Survival times were censored if the patient was still alive on Oct. 15, 2009 (the last date of update of the database). Univariate survival curves were generated by the Kaplan-Meier method (Bland et al. 1998) and significance determined using the log-rank test (Bland J M, Altman D G. The logrank test. BMJ 2004; 328:1073). Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox's proportional hazards analysis. For purposes of evaluating the prognostic significance of each of the above IHC biomarker panel definitions of BLBC, three separate models were constructed for the 3-biomarker, 5-biomarker and 4-biomarker definitions of BLBC. The three different multivariate models were compared using the likelihood ratio test and Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) (Akaike 1974). In addition, we all hypotheses were tested using the Wald test (Cox 1974) and associated P value. All tests were two-sided and P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results and Discussion

In this series of 904 patients diagnosed with primary invasive ductal adenocarcinoma of the breast (FIG. 15), all patients had pre-existing data with regard to IHC detection of ER, PR and HER2 receptor status. Patients who were diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer at initial presentation (n=19), who did not undergo primary surgical therapy at John Wayne Cancer Institute (n=125), were excluded from the analysis. The final sample size of the study cohort was 759.

Clinicopathologic features of study cohort. Clinicopathologic features of the 759 patients included in this study appear in Table 7 (below) classified according to ER and HER2 status, approximating the molecular subtypes.

TABLE 7 Clinical and histopathologic characteristics of the patient cohort—T stage and nodal status are based on final pathologic assessment. Luminal Luminal/HER2 HER2 Basal-like (ER⁺/HER2⁻) (ER⁺/HER2⁺) (ER⁻/HER2⁺) (ER⁻/HER²⁻)n = n = 481 n = 95 n = 57 126 Subtype (63.3%) (12.5%) (7.5%) (16.7%) Age (mean ± SD) 58.3 ± 13.5 52.0 ± 11.7 53.5 ± 10.4 56.1 ± 15.2 Tumor size 0-2 cm 356 (74.0) 56 (59.0) 31 (54.4) 68 (54.0) 2-5 cm 102 (21.2) 27 (28.4) 17 (29.8) 40 (31.7)  >5 cm 13 (2.7) 10 (10.5) 4 (7.0) 15 (11.9) Unknown 10 (2.1) 2 (2.1) 5 (8.8) 3 (2.4) Nodal status Negative 322 (66.9) 56 (58.9) 30 (52.6) 70 (55.6) Positive 140 (29.1) 38 (40.0) 26 (45.6) 48 (38.1) Unknown 19 (4.0) 1 (1.1) 1 (1.8) 8 (6.3) Tumor grade 1 149 (31.0) 1 (1.0) 0 (0)   1 (0.8) 2 225 (46.8) 30 (31.6)  8 (14.0) 11 (8.7)  3 101 (21.0) 62 (65.3) 47 (82.5) 109 (86.5)  Unknown  6 (1.2) 2 (2.1) 2 (3.5) 5 (4.0) Hormonal therapy No  96 (20.0) 16 (16.8) 48 (84.2) 85 (67.5) Yes 328 (68.2) 67 (70.5) 3 (5.3) 9 (7.1) Unknown  57 (11.9) 12 (12.5)  6 (10.5) 32 (25.4) Chemotherapy No 238 (49.5) 21 (22.1)  8 (14.0) 24 (19.1) Yes 174 (36.2) 69 (72.6) 43 (75.5) 67 (53.2) Unknown  69 (14.4) 5 (5.3)  6 (10.5) 35 (27.8) Herceptin therapy No — 65 (68.4) 34 (59.7) — Yes — 21 (22.1) 14 (24.6) — Unknown — 9 (9.5)  9 (15.8) —

As illustrated in Table 7, 63.3% (481 of 759) were defined as having Luminal (ER⁺/HER2⁻) subtype, 12.5% (95 of 759) as having Luminal/HER2 (ER⁺/HER2⁺) subtype, 7.5% (57 of 759) as having HER2 (ER⁻/HER2⁺) subtype and 16.7% (126 of 759) were defined as being BLBC by the TNP definition (3-biomarker panel). 90 of these 126 specimens underwent additional IHC assays performed for assessment of CK5/6, CK14 and FOXC1. Analyses were not performed for the 36 remaining specimens because of exhaustion of invasive tumor tissue, inadequate remaining invasive tumor in the tissue block or technical issues. 60 of 90 TNP patients were BLBC by the basal cytokeratin definition (5-biomarker panel), and 55 of 87 TNP patients were basal-like by the FOXC1 definition (4-biomarker panel). Clinicopathologic features of the TNP patients classified according to either the 5-biomarker panel or the 4-biomarker panel appear in Table 8 below. Representative IHC images of FFPE sections stained with CK5/6, CK14 or FOXC1 are shown in FIG. 26.

TABLE 8 Clinicopathologic characteristics of patient subset with triple negative breast cancer. Basal CK⁻ Basal CK⁺ FOXC1⁻ FOXC1⁺ n = 38 n = 60 n = 42 n = 49 (5.6%) (8.9%) p-value (6.3%) (8.2%) p-value Age 59.7 ± 14.4 55.9 ± 16.6 0.2429 63.2 ± 15.2 51.5 ± 14.4 0.0003 (mean ± SD) Tumor size 0-2 cm 24(63.2) 25(41.7) 19(45.2) 23(46.9) 2-5 cm  7(18.4) 26(43.3) 14(33.3) 19(38.8)  >5 cm  7(18.4)  7(11.7)  8(19.1)  6(12.3) Unknown 2(3.3) 1(2.4) 1(2.0) Nodal status Negative 21(55.3) 32(53.4) 23(54.7) 26(53.1) Positive 15(39.5) 23(38.3) 13(31.0) 22(44.9) Unknown 2(5.3) 5(8.3)  6(14.3) 1(2.0) Tumor grade 1 1(2.6) 0(0)  0(0)  0(0)  2  4(10.5) 4(6.7)  6(14.3) 2(4.1) 3 32(84.2) 54(90.0) 35(83.3) 45(91.8) Unknown 1(2.6) 2(3.3) 1(2.4) 2(4.1) Hormonal therapy No 23(60.5) 39(65.0) 25(59.6) 32(65.3) Yes  4(10.5) 1(1.7) 3(7.1) 1(2.0) Unknown 11(29.0) 23(33.3) 14(33.3) 16(32.7) Chemotherapy No  9(23.7)  9(15.0)  9(21.4)  5(10.2) Yes 17(44.7) 30(50.0) 17(40.5) 28(57.1) Unknown 12(31.6) 21(35.0) 16(38.1) 16(32.7) **p value

Prognostic Value of FOXC1 Protein Expression in Breast Cancer.

In the present study, FOXC1 status was considered positive only if any nuclear staining was observed (Ray et al. 2010). Positive expression of FOXC1 protein was found to be a significant predictor of overall survival (FIG. 16) amongst breast cancer patients on univariate analysis (HR 3.364 95% CI 1.758-6.438, P=0.0002) (Table 9-10). Other standard clinicopathologic factors such as age, tumor size, nodal status and tumor grade were also found to be significant predictors of overall survival. Adjuvant treatment variables such as hormonal therapy, chemotherapy or trastuzumab (herceptin) therapy were not significant predictors of overall survival, indicating equivalent effects across all groups. Furthermore, the prognostic significance of FOXC1 on univariate analysis was retained regardless of the cutoff point used to segregate patients into FOXC1 positive and FOXC1 negative subsets (Table 9, FIG. 16). The prognostic significance of FOXC1 protein expression as an independent predictor of OS persisted on multivariate analysis, whereas both the triple negative phenotype as well as the basal cytokeratin positive phenotypes no longer remained significant on multivariate analysis (Table 10). Again, the prognostic significance of FOXC1 as an independent predictor of OS on multivariate analysis was also retained regardless of the cutoff point used to segregate patients into FOXC1 positive and FOXC1 negative subsets. The optimal cutoff point for FOXC1 protein expression scored on IHC in this study was 0-1 (n=42) versus 2-3 (n=49), although FOXC1 protein expression remained a highly significant prognostic marker at all cutoff points tested (0 versus 1-3, 0-1 versus 2-3 and 0-2 versus 3).

TABLE 9 Univariate cox regression analysis of the prognostic significance of individual clinicopathologic and treatment variables on 5 year overall survival. N P-value Hazard ratio (95% CI) Age 759 <0.0001 1.046 (1.028 1.064) Tumor Size (>=5, 2-4.99, 0-2) 739 0.0006 1.826 (1.293 2.580) Nodal Status 730 0.0113 1.913 (1.158 3.164) (Positive vs. Negative) Tumor Grade (1, 2, 3) 744 0.0313 1.468 (1.035 2.082) ER⁻/HER2⁻ vs. others 759 0.0104 2.027 (1.181 3.480) Basal+ vs. others 731 0.0043 2.572 (1.344 4.919) FOXC1⁺ (1, 2, 3) vs. others 724 0.0014 2.880 (1.505 5.510) FOXC1⁺ (2, 3) vs. others 724 0.0002 3.364 (1.758 6.438) FOXC1⁺ (3) vs. others 724 0.0012 3.392 (1.618 7.112) Hormone Therapy (yes vs. no) 652 0.1213 0.660 (0.390 1.116) Chemotherapy (yes vs. no) 644 0.2512 0.733 (0.432 1.245) Herceptin Therapy (yes vs. no) 688 0.6389 1.275 (0.462 3.524)

TABLE 10 Multivariate cox regression analysis of the prognostic significance of individual clinicopathologic and treatment variables on 5 year overall survival. N P-value Hazard ratio (95% CI) Age 670 <0.0001 1.049 (1.028 1.069) Tumor Size (>=5, 2-4.99, 0-2) 0.0022 1.797 (1.234 2.618) Nodal Status (Positive vs. Negative) Tumor Grade (1, 2, 3) ER⁻/HER2⁻ vs. others Basal+ vs. others FOXC1⁺ (1, 2, 3) vs. others *0.0005 3.406 (1.713 6.775) FOXC1⁺ (2, 3) vs. others *0.0001 3.839 (1.928 7.645) FOXC1⁺ (3) vs. others *0.0019 3.755 (1.632 8.636) Hormone Therapy (yes vs. no) Chemotherapy (yes vs. no) Herceptin Therapy (yes vs. no)

Overall Survival According to IHC Models of Breast Cancer Molecular Subtype.

The breast cancer subtypes as defined by the surrogate IHC biomarker panels differed significantly in predicting OS (FIG. 17). The model utilizing FOXC1 achieved the most significant degree of prognostic stratification (p<0.0001). In the 3-biomarker panel, the 5-year and 10-year OS for BLBC patients (defined using TNP) was 85% and 77%, respectively. In the 5-biomarker panel, the 5-year and 10-year OS for BLBC patients (defined using TNP+CK5/6 and CK14 was 82% and 66%, respectively. In the 4-biomarker panel, the 5-year and 10-year OS for BLBC patients (defined using TNP+FOXC1) was 77% and 69%, respectively.

On univariate Cox regression analysis, in addition to standard clinicopathologic factors such as age, tumor size, lymph node status and tumor grade, BLBC defined according to the 3-biomarker, 5-biomarker and 4-biomarker panels were all significant predictors of breast cancer OS (Table 9, above). On multivariate Cox regression analysis, only age, tumor size and BLBC defined according to the 4-biomarker panel based on FOXC1 protein expression retained significance and were independent predictors of OS. The 3-biomarker panel utilizing TNP as well as the 5-biomarker panel based on basal CK expression lost significance on multivariate analysis.

For purposes of evaluating the prognostic significance of each of the above IHC biomarker panel definitions of BLBC, three separate multivariate models of breast cancer molecular subtypes were constructed for the 3-biomarker (based on the triple negative phenotype (TNP)), 5-biomarker (based on expression of basal cytokeratins) and 4-biomarker (based on protein expression of FOXC1) definitions of BLBC, each including the standard clinicopathologic factors age, tumor size, nodal status and tumor grade. The three multivariate models were compared using the likelihood ration test and Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC). The 4-biomarker model based on FOXC1 protein expression had the lowest AIC score indicating it to be the model with the greatest prognostic value (Table 11).

TABLE 11 Comparison of the three different multivariate models of breast cancer molecular subtype utilizing surrogate immunohistochemical biomarker panels. AIC = 748.576 3-biomarker (TNP) Hazard Ratio prognostic model N = 702 P-value (95% CI) Age <0.0001 1.049 1.029 1.069 Tumor Size (>5, 2-4.99, 0-2) 0.0153 1.600 1.094 2.338 Nodal Status (positive vs. negative) Tumor Grade (High-3, 0.0123 1.628 1.111 2.385 Intermediate-2, Low-1) ER⁻/HER2⁻ vs. others AIC = 719.774 5-biomarker (Basal cytokeratin) Hazard Ratio prognostic model N = 677 P-value (95% CI) Age <0.0001 1.042 1.022 1.063 Tumor Size (>5, 2-4.99, 0-2) 0.0034 1.765 (1207 2.581) Nodal Status (positive vs. negative) Tumor Grade (High-3, Intermediate-2, Low-1) Basal⁺ vs. others 0.01 2.499 1.245 5.016 AIC = 712.989 4-biomarker (FOXC1) Hazard Ratio prognostic model N = 670 P-value (95% CI) Age <0.0001 1.045 1.028 1.069 Tumor Size (>5, 2-4.99, 0-2) 0.0022 1.797 1.234 2.618 Nodal Status (positive vs. negative) Tumor Grade (High-3, Intermediate-2, Low-1) FOXC1⁺ (2,3) vs. others <0.0001 3.839 1.928 7.645

In the current study cohort of patients with invasive ductal breast cancer, the basal-like phenotype defined on the basis of positive FOXC1 protein expression was superior to the traditionally employed triple negative phenotype, for purposes of prognostic stratification. This demonstrates that being “basal-like” is not synonymous with being “triple-negative.” The IHC definition of the basal-like phenotype based on the positive expression of FOXC1 protein was also superior to basal-like phenotype defined by the positive expression of basal CK, for purposes of prognostic stratification. This represents a significant advance as, unlike basal CKs, FOXC1 represents a potential candidate for the targeted personalized therapy of patients with BLBC (Ray et al. 2010). FOXC1 not only promises to be a prognostic biomarker, but a predictive biomarker as well—predictive of the therapeutic efficacy of any future anti-FOXC1 directed drug or biologic for the treatment of patients with basal-like breast cancer.

The tissue microarray platform relies on representative core needle sampling of specimens and is an excellent method for exploratory research projects that considerably minimizes resource allocation. It is ideal for assessing the presence of biomarkers that are expressed homogeneously throughout a specimen such as ER and HER2. However, it is not ideal for assessing the presence of potential biomarkers, such as basal CKs, that are expressed heterogeneously throughout the tissue section (refer Laakso et al.). Therefore, entire tissue sections were used instead of tissue microarrays for the analysis.

The analysis discussed above was restricted to the invasive ductal breast cancer histologic type. This was done to minimize potential confounding effects (prognostic, biologic or both) of histologic subtype on molecular subtype in breast cancer. However, the above findings with regard to FOXC1 protein expression may be extrapolated to other histologic types of breast cancer such as lobular breast cancer.

FOXC1 mRNA expression, is found to have a prognostic impact on OS in breast cancer that is likely independent of lymph node status, and is at least in part attributable to a significantly higher rate of association with the early occurrence of brain metastasis, often as the first site of distant metastasis, even in lymph node negative patients. In the present study, when FOXC1 protein expression status as assessed by IHC was included in the multivariate model, nodal status failed to retain significance. This lends further support to the prognostic impact of FOXC1 being independent of nodal involvement.

The 4-biomarker panel utilizing FOXC1 protein expression showed superior prognostication compared to the 5-biomarker panel utilizing basal CK 5/6 and/or CK14 in the current patient cohort (when considered in combination with ER, PR and HER2 status of breast cancer specimens). This suggests that FOXC1 protein expression, when present, is successful in diagnosing patients possessing the true basal-like molecular subtype from amongst patients with the triple-negative phenotype. A subset analysis of only triple-negative patients in this study cohort displayed a trend towards supporting this conclusion (data not included).

Example 4: FOXC1 Responsible for Aggressive and Invasive Phenotype, Making it a Viable Therapeutic Target

Materials and Methods

FOXC1-Knockdown Cells.

FOXC1 shRNAs and a control shRNA that does not match any known cDNA were from Sigma. Cells were stably transfected with the FOXC1 or the control shRNA construct and selected with 5 μg/mL puromycin. Pooled knockdown cells were used for experiments.

FOXC1 shRNAs.

The following shRNAs were purchased from Sigma:

Mouse FOXC1 shRNA sequences:  (shRNA1; SEQ ID NO: 5) CCGGGAGCAGAGCTACTATCGCGCTCTCGAGAGCGCGATAGTAGCTCTGCT CTTTTG;  and  (shRNA2; SEQ ID NO: 6) CCGGTGGGAATAGTAGCTGTCAGATCTCGAGATCTGACAGCTACTATTCCC ATTTTTG.  Human FOXC1 shRNA sequences:  (shRNA1; SEQ ID NO: 7) CCGGCAAGAAGAAGGACGCGGTGAACTCGAGTTCACCGCGTCCTTCTTCTT GTTTTTG;  and  (shRNA2; SEQ ID NO: 8) CCGGCCCGGACAAGAAGATCACCCTCTCGAGAGGGTGATCTTCTTGTC  CGGGTTTTT.  Control shRNA (does not target any known human or mouse gene):  (SEQ ID NO: 9) CCGGCAACAAGATGAAGAGCACCAACTCGAGTTGGTGCTCTTCATCTTGTT GTTTTT 

FOXC1-Overexpressing Cells.

A full-length human FOXC1 cDNA was stably transduced into breast cancer cells. Stable cell lines were selected with 800 μg/mL G418. Pooled populations were used for experiments.

Cell Culture.

Cancer cell lines were from American Type Culture Collection. Normal human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC) were from Clonetics. Cell proliferation was assessed by the MTT assay. Three-dimensional cell culture was done using BD Matrigel matrix in 96-well plates.

Cell Migration and Invasion Assay.

Briefly, 10⁴ cells were plated on the top of a Boyden chamber inserts with an 8 μm pore size. The inserts were then transferred into a 24-well plate. Each well contained DMEM with 10% serum as the chemoattractant. To rule out the effect of cell proliferation, 2 μg/ml mitomycin C was added to the cells. After incubation, cells remaining on the upper surface of the chambers were removed with cotton swabs. Cells on the lower surface of the inserts were stained with the HEMA3 kit (Fisher). The membrane was then mounted onto a microscope slide and the migrating cells were counted in 5 different areas using a light microscope. For invasion assays, inserts were coated with a thin layer of Matrigel basement membrane matrix (BD Biosciences) and the same procedures were followed.

Immunohistochemistry and Immunoblotting were performed as described above.

Results and Discussion

The function of FOXC1 in breast cancer cells was examined. Overexpression of FOXC1 in MDA-MB-231 BLBC cells (harboring moderate levels of endogenous FOXC1) increased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion (FIG. 11A). Similar results were observed in MCF-7 luminal breast cancer cells (harboring undetectable levels of endogenous FOXC1; FIG. 12A). FOXC1 overexpression also enhanced anchorage-independent growth of MCF-7 cells in soft agar. Immunoblotting indicated that cyclin D1, fibroblast markers (vimentin, fibronectin, and a-smooth muscle actin), integrins β4 and β1, and matrix metalloproteinases MMP2 and MMP9 were upregulated by FOXC1 overexpression (FIG. 12B-D). FOXC1 has been shown to induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in MCF-12A mammary epithelial cells (Bloushtain-Qimron et al. 2008-21). Similarly, FOXC1 overexpression in MCF-10A mammary epithelial cells induced a mesenchymal phenotype accompanied by increased expression of the basal marker P-cadherin and decreased expression of the epithelial marker E-cadherin (FIG. 12E). Regulation of these genes by FOXC1 was also confirmed by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (data not shown). These data suggest that FOXC1 can elicit an aggressive phenotype associated with BLBC cells.

To assess the effects of FOXC1 depletion, FOXC1 shRNA was stably transduced into 4T1 mouse breast cancer cells, which are a model for stage IV human breast cancer (Aslakson & Miller 1992-22) and possess high levels of endogenous FOXC1 (FIG. 13A). These shRNAs reduced FOXC1 levels by >90% (FIG. 13B) and decreased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion (FIG. 11B). Similar results were obtained with BT549 human breast cancer cells when FOXC1 was reduced by shRNA (FIGS. 13C and D). FOXC1 depletion also converted 4T1 cells from fibroblast-like to epithelial-like and suppressed cell growth in three-dimensional culture and colony formation in soft agar (FIGS. 11C and D). These data further suggest a role of FOXC1 in regulation of cell function. Studies have suggested that BLBC may possess extraordinarily high growth rates (Seewaldt & Scott 2007) and an EMT phenotype (Sarrio et al. 2008) compared with other breast cancer subgroups. FOXC1 may play a role in coordinating these BLBC properties. Further, DNA methylation may play a role in BLBC-associated FOXC1 expression. In summary, these studies support FOXC1 as a theranostic biomarker, i.e., a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker as well as a therapeutic target.

Example 5: FOXC1 Regulation of ERα Expression and Function

Based on the studies below, it was found that FOXC1 induces NF-κB signaling to inhibit ERα expression. This study provides a molecular basis for the ERα-negative phenotype of basal-like breast cancer and also provides implications for the role of FOXC1 in the response of breast cancer cells to antiestrogen treatment.

Materials and Methods

Cell Culture.

MCF-7 and T47D human breast cancer cell lines were obtained from the Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine. Cells were routinely maintained in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 2 mM glutamine, 50 IU/ml of penicillin, 50 μg/ml of streptomycin, and 10 μg/ml insulin. Cells were kept at 37° C. in a humidified incubator with 5% CO₂. Tamoxifen and 17β-estradiol were from Sigma (St Louis, Mo.). The IKK small molecule inhibitor BMS-345541 was purchased from Calbiochem (Gibbstown, N.J.). For experiments involving estradiol and tamoxifen, cells were serum-starved overnight and then stimulated with the ER ligands for different time periods prior to cell proliferation assays.

Microarray Data Analysis.

Raw expression data from publicly available human breast cancer gene expression microarray data sets (Ginestier et al., 2006; Lu et al., 2008; Perou et al., 2000; Pollack et al., 2002; Richardson et al., 2006; Schuetz et al., 2006; Sorlie et al., 2001; Sorlie et al., 2003; Zhao et al., 2004) and the Oncology—Breast Samples Project database (Bittnet et al.) of the International Genomics Consortium (IGC) at https://expo.intgen.org/expo/public were analyzed using Oncomine 4.0 software.

Stable Transfection.

MCF-7 and T47D cells were stably transfected for 24 h with a FLAG-tagged FOXC1 construct or the empty vector using Lipofectamine 2000 reagent (Invitrogen). Stable clones were then selected using 800 μg/ml G418 (Invitrogen). Expression of FLAG-FOXC1 was verified by western blotting with an anti-FOXC1 antibody (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, Calif.) and an anti-FLAG antibody (Origene, Rockville, Md.).

Transient Transfection.

MCF-7 cells were grown for 48 h till 80% confluence before transfection. For cotransfections, 0.1 μg DNA of ERE-tk-luc or NF-κB-luc (Promega, Madison, Wis.) reporter construct and 1 μg of FLAG-FOXC1 or NF-κB p65 vector was added to 60 mm dishes. The transfected cells were cultured for 24 h. The estrogen-responsive reporter plasmid ERE-tk-luc contains a single consensus ERE upstream of a minimal thymidine kinase promoter and the luciferase gene (Cui et al., 2003). At 24 h after transfection, cells were washed twice with PBS and harvested in 200 μl of reporter lysis buffer (Promega). Twenty nanograms of a β-galactosidase expression vector pSV-β-Gal (Promega) were co-transfected as an internal control. Luciferase and β-galactosidase assays were performed using Promega reporter assay reagents and the GloMax Multi-detection system. To test whether p65 overexpression inhibits ERα expression, MCF-7 cells were transfected with a p65 construct or the vector for 48 h, followed by immunoblotting.

Immunoblot Analysis.

Whole cell lysates for western blotting were generated by cell lysis buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 2 mM EDTA, 1% NP-40, 10% glycerol) supplemented with a protease inhibitor cocktail (Sigma, St Louis, Mo.). Equal amounts of protein were separated by 10% SDS-PAGE and then transferred onto a nitrocellulose membrane. The remaining steps were conducted according to a standard immunoblotting protocol (Qu et al., 2009). Immunoblotting was done with polyclonal antibodies against p65, FOXC1, IRS1 (1:200; Santa Cruz Biotechnology), polyclonal antibodies against phospho-p65, p50, IκBα (1:1000; Cell Signal), or monoclonal antibodies against ERα (1:500; Novocastra Laboratories, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK), PR (1:500; DAKO, Carpinteria, Calif.). Anti-β actin (Sigma) was used at a 1:10000 dilution. After the primary antibody incubation, the membrane was again washed with PBST three times (5 min each) and then incubated with a horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-linked secondary antibody (Amersham, Piscataway, N.J.) at a dilution of 1:4000 in blocking solution. The membrane was washed and bands were visualized using chemiluminescence assays.

Real-Time Reverse Transcription-PCR.

Total RNA was isolated from breast cancer cells using the RNeasy mini kit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.). PCR amplification was performed by using Rotor-Gene 3000 Real Time PCR System (CoRbett Research) in a 25-μL reaction volume. The PCR mixture contained SuperScript® III Reverse Transcriptase, TaqMan probe, and forward and reverse primers. Samples were incubated for 1 cycle at 95° C. for 2 min, 40 cycles at 95° C. for 30 s, and 60° C. for 60 s. All samples were run in triplicate. Results were analyzed by using the Rotor-Gene 3000 software package (Corbett Research). Primer information is as follows: FOXC1 forward primer 5′-CGGTATCC AGCCAGTCTCTGTACCG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:10), FOXC1 reverse primer 5′-GTTCGGCTTTGAGGGTGTGTC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:11), ERα forward primer 5′-CGGTTAGATTCATCATGCGGAACCG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:12), and ERα reverse primer 5′-TGTGTAGAGGGCATGGTGGAG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:13). ERα and FOXC1 mRNA data were normalized by the β-actin mRNA value.

Immunofluorescence Staining.

MCF-7 cells were transiently transfected with GFP-FOXC1 plasmid for 24 h. Then the cells were digested with trypsin and seeded in chamber slides (BD Biosciences, Franklin Lakes, N.J.). After 12-h incubation, cells were fixed with 4% formaldehyde and then permeabilized with PBS containing 0.1% Triton X-100. Slides were blocked by 5% BSA for 30 minutes and incubated with a primary anti-ERα antibody (1:100) at room temperature for 1 h. Cells were then incubated with an Alexa Fluor 546-conjugated secondary antibody (1:200, Invitrogen) for 30 min. Slides were washed by PBS three times for 5 minutes each, mounted in DAPI, and observed under a high resolution Nikon TI-E microscope.

IPA Signaling Pathway Analysis.

The Richardson et al. data set (Richardson et al., 2006) was subjected to Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA, Ingenuity Systems, Redwood City, Calif.). Briefly, global gene expression profiles of all breast cancer samples were analyzed according to their molecular subgroup (basal-like, HER2 and luminal) with respect to their association with a specific canonical pathway in the Ingenuity Pathways Knowledge Base. The significance of the association between the average global gene expression profile associated with a particular subgroup and the specific canonical pathway was measured in two ways: 1) A ratio of the average number of genes from a particular subgroup that map to the pathway divided by the total number of genes (having probe representation on the microarray platform) assigned to the canonical pathway was calculated. 2) Fischer's exact test was used to calculate a p-value determining the probability that the association between the genes in any particular subgroup and the canonical pathway is explained by chance alone. The negative log of this p-value is the Impact Factor.

NF-κB Transcription Factor TransAM Assay.

NF-κB family activity was measured using the TransAM NF-κB ELISA kit (Active Motif, Carlsbad, Calif.) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Briefly, isolated nuclear pellets were resuspended in extraction buffer (20 mM Hepes pH 7.9, 0.4 M NaCl, 1 mM EDTA). Supernatant (nuclear extract) was retained after a second centrifugation. Samples (10 μg) were added in triplicate to 96-well plates coated with an oligonucleotide that contains a consensus binding sequence for NF-κB components. After 1 h incubation at room temperature, primary antibodies of distinct NF-κB components were added; subsequent addition of HRP-conjugated secondary antibody produced a sensitive colorimetric readout quantified by spectrophotometry at the 450-nm wavelength with a reference wavelength of 655 nm.

Cell Proliferation Assay.

Cell viability was assessed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) assay. Cells were seeded in 24-well plates at 30% confluence and the MTT assay was performed one, two, three and four days after treatment. For each assay, 50 μl of MTT (5 mg/ml) were added to each well and cells were incubated at 37° C. for an additional 4 h. After centrifugation, the supernatant was carefully aspirated and 300 μl of DMSO (Sigma) were added to each well. Immediately after resolubilization, all plates were scanned at 575 nm on a microplate reader. The absorbance (A) value represented the number of live cells.

Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) Assay.

ChIP assays were performed by using a CHIP-IT Express Enzymatic kit (Active Motif) according to the manufacturer's protocol. Cells were grown to 80% confluence in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS and then cross-linked with 1% formaldehyde at room temperature for 10 min. Cells were harvested and digested with trypsin, followed by centrifugation. Supernatants were precleared at 4° C. for 30 min with salmon sperm DNA-protein A-Sepharose and immunoprecipitated with an anti-p65 antibody (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) overnight at 4° C. Immunoprecipitation with normal rabbit IgG was performed to evaluate the presence of non-specific interactions, and aliquots of DNA-protein complexes were analyzed by PCR to normalize for DNA input. Immunocomplexes were incubated with salmon sperm DNA-protein A Sepharose for 1 h at 48° C. Pellets were washed and eluted as per the manufacturer's instructions and then incubated overnight at 65° C. DNA fragments were purified with a QIAquick Spin Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.). The primers used for the ChIP assays are as follows: ERα forward primer, 5′-AGAAGCTAGACCTCTGCAGG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:14), and ERα reverse primer, 5′-AAGCAG GGGCAAGGAAATATC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:15). The amplified 140-bp fragment spans a conserved p65 binding site GGGACTTTCT in the F promoter. For PCR, 2 μl from a 30-μl DNA extraction and 30 cycles of amplification were used.

Statistical Analysis.

The results are presented as mean±standard deviation (SD) of samples measured in triplicate or duplicate. Each experiment was repeated three times, unless otherwise indicated. The Student's t-test was used to calculate differences between the various experimental groups. The difference was considered statistically significant with P<0.05.

Results and Discussion

FOXC1 is Associated with ERα-Negative Human Breast Cancer.

FOXC1 has been identified as a pivotal marker for basal-like breast cancer (Ray et al., 2010), which is characterized by low or absent expression of ER, PR, and HER-2/neu. Analysis of the Oncomine database, which provides publicly available gene expression profiling datasets on human cancers, revealed that FOXC1 mRNA levels inversely correlated with ERα expression in multiple breast cancer cDNA microarray array data sets (Ginestier et al., 2006; Lu et al., 2008; Perou et al., 2000; Pollack et al., 2002; Richardson et al., 2006; Schuetz et al., 2006; Sorlie et al., 2001; Sorlie et al., 2003; Zhao et al., 2004) (FIGS. 18A and 19). Next, FOXC1 levels in well-known ERα-positive or -negative human breast cancer cell lines were examined. Immunoblotting demonstrated that FOXC1 was readily detected in ERα-negative breast cancer cell lines, but not in ERα-positive cells (FIG. 18B).

FOXC1 Downregulates ERα Expression.

In light of the strong inverse correlation between FOXC1 and ER levels in breast cancer, it was determined whether FOXC1 affects ERα expression. To address this question, FOXC1 was stably transfected into ERα-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Ectopic overexpression of FOXC1 substantially reduced ERα levels in stable transfectants, as shown by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and western blotting (FIGS. 20A and 20B). In accordance, well-established estrogen-regulated genes PR and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) were also downregulated in FOXC1-overexpressing MCF-7 cells (FIG. 20B). Similar results were also observed in ERα-positive T47D breast cancer cells (FIG. 21).

To corroborate the above finding, a GFP-FOXC1 fusion gene construct was transiently transfected into MCF-7 cells. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that ERα levels were markedly lower in MCF-7 cells expressing GFP-FOXC1 compared with neighboring cells harboring barely detectable GFP signal (FIG. 20C). Next, MCF-7 cells with an estrogen response element (ERE)-luciferase reporter construct were transiently co-transfected as described previously (Cui et al., 2003), and a FOXC1 plasmid, and then stimulated the cells with estradiol. As illustrated in FIG. 20D, FOXC1 suppressed estradiol-induced luciferase activity, suggesting that the transcriptional activity of ERα was inhibited. Taken together, these results indicate that FOXC1 is a repressor of ERα expression and thereby its activity.

FOXC1 Reduces the Sensitivity of Breast Cancer Cells to ERα Ligands.

Previously, FOXC1 overexpression was shown to enhance cell growth under normal culture conditions (Ray et al., 2010). Thus, it was determined whether FOXC1 affects the growth of MCF-7 cells under other culture conditions. As illustrated in FIGS. 22A and 22B, FOXC1 overexpression potentiated the growth of MCF-7 cells in serum-free medium, but diminished the increase of cell growth induced by estradiol treatment compared with serum-starved conditions. In addition, FOXC1 overexpression rendered MCF-7 cells less sensitive to the treatment of the antiestrogen tamoxifen (FIG. 22C). Collectively, these data suggest that the downregulation of ERα by FOXC1 enables MCF-7 cell growth to be less dependent on E2-induced ERα activation or tamoxifen-induced ERα inactivation.

FOXC1 Upregulates NF-κB Activity.

Because analysis of the human ERα gene promoter (Kos et al., 2001; Tanimoto et al., 1999) did not find conserved FOXC1-binding sites, it was postulated that the inhibition of ERα by FOXC1 may be mediated by other signaling mechanisms. With this in view, an unbiased screening approach was adopted. As FOXC1 is an important marker for basal-like breast cancer, a systematic signaling network analysis of breast cancer cDNA microarray data sets was conducted using the Ingenuity IPA platform (see Materials and Methods) to identify basal-like breast cancer-associated signaling pathways. As illustrated in FIG. 23A, NF-κB was uncovered as one of the most distinctive pathways in the basal-like subtype, which is consistent with the previous finding that the NF-κB transcription factor is constitutively activated in ER-negative breast cancer and essential for the proliferation of basal-like breast cancer cells (Karin et al., 2002; Nakshatri et al., 1997; Singh et al., 2007).

Given the above finding, it was determined whether FOXC1 regulates NF-κB function. Immunoblotting showed that the p65 subunit and p-p65 (Ser546, an IκB kinase [IKK] phosphorylation site) were markedly induced by FOXC1 overexpression in MCF-7 cells (FIG. 23B). Conversely, knockdown of FOXC1 by its shRNA repressed p65 expression in 4T1 mouse breast cancer cells, which possess high levels of endogenous FOXC1 (FIG. 23C). Previously it was shown that p65 levels are primarily controlled at the protein stability level (Ryo et al., 2003). Using RT-PCR and the protein translation inhibitor cycloheximide, this p65 upregulation by FOXC1 was confirmed to be via an increase in its protein stability (data not shown). Immunoblotting using nuclear extracts indicated that FOXC1 promoted p65 translocation into the nucleus (FIG. 23D). In agreement, TransAM ELISA using oligonucleotides comprising consensus NF-κB-binding sequences showed that FOXC1 considerably increased the DNA-binding activity of p65 (FIG. 23E). To corroborate that FOXC1 enhances NF-κB activity, an NF-κB-responsive luciferase reporter construct was used. As illustrated in FIG. 23F, FOXC1 overexpression significantly increased NF-κB-driven luciferase activity. Co-expression of a super-repressor IκBα, a p65-inhibiting protein, abolished this FOXC1 effect. Interestingly, FOXC1 overexpression sensitized MCF-7 cells to pharmacologic inhibition of NF-κB by its small-molecule inhibitor BMS-345541 in cell proliferation assays (FIG. 23G). Similar results were obtained with other ERα-positive breast cancer cell lines (data not shown). Taken together, these results demonstrate that FOXC1 is a potent inducer of NF-κB activation.

NF-κB Downregulates ERα Expression.

NF-κB is associated with ERα negative status in breast cancer (Biswas et al., 2004; Nakshatri et al., 1997). It has been shown that NF-κB negatively regulates ERα expression (Biswas et al., 2005; Holloway et al., 2004). To further investigate whether NF-κB plays a role in the effect of FOXC1 on ERα expression, the NF-κB p65 subunit in MCF-7 cells was overexpressed by transfection. Immunoblotting showed that increased p65 expression lowered ERα protein levels in MCF-7 cells (FIG. 24A). Real-time RT-PCR indicated that ERα mRNA levels were also decreased (FIG. 25). Conversely, inhibition of NF-κB by the IKK inhibitor BMS-345541 in FOXC1-overexpressing MCF-7 cells elevated levels of ERα, PR, and IRS-1 (FIG. 24B). In addition, when p65 or ERα was transiently co-transfected with a ERE luciferase reporter construct, E2-induced luciferase activity was substantially decreased by p65 co-transfection, while increased by ERα co-transfection (FIG. 24C).

The human ERα mRNA is transcribed from at least seven different promoters with unique 5′-untranslated regions (Kos et al., 2001). All these ERα transcripts utilize a same splice accept site at nucleotide +163 from the transcription start site in the originally identified exon 1 (Green et al., 1986). Previous studies showed that p65 binds to the B promoter of the ERα gene (Tanimoto et al., 1999). Notably, there is also a highly conserved p65-binding site GGGACTTTCA at position −430 in the ERα F promoter (Mahmoodzadeh et al., 2009). To confirm that p65 binds to this promoter region, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were performed using cell extracts prepared from control and FOXC1-overexpressing MCF-7 cells. The 140 bp amplified promoter region spans the binding site. As presented in FIG. 24D, p65 binding to the ERα F promoter was increased by FOXC1 overexpression. Taken together, these results suggest that p65 mediates the FOXC1 suppression of ER expression.

In this study, it was shown that expression of FOXC1, a transcription factor essential for mesoderm tissue development in vertebrates (Berry et al., 2002; Saleem et al., 2003) and a marker for basal-like breast cancer (Ray et al., 2010), inversely correlates with levels of ERα in breast cancer tissues and cell lines. Specifically, it was found that FOXC1 upregulates the NF-κB p65 subunit, which then downregulates ERα expression via a transcriptional mechanism. Upregulation of p65 also desensitizes breast cancer cells to estradiol and the antiestrogen tamoxifen. Essentially, FOXC1 overexpression causes cells to switch from estrogen-dependent to NF-κB-dependent proliferation, a finding confirmed by breast cancer cell sensitivity to NF-κB inhibition. NF-κB is a well-established transcription factor that plays a central role in regulating the expression of many genes associated with cell proliferation, immune response, inflammation, cell survival, and oncogenesis (Karin et al., 2002; Lin et al.). This study provides evidence for NF-κB-mediated crosstalk between ERα and FOXC1.

Previous studies have revealed that forkhead box A1 (FOXA1) and GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3) are expressed in close association with ERα (Albergaria et al., 2009). Both are transcription factors implicated in ERα-mediated action in breast cancer (Eeckhoute et al., 2007; Lupien et al., 2008; van der Heul-Nieuwenhuijsen et al., 2009). FOXA1 binds to chromatin DNA and opens the chromatin structure, thereby enhancing the binding of ERα to the promoters of its target genes. The binding site of FOXA1 is usually in close proximity to ERα binding sites. In this regard, FOXA1 acts as a priming factor in the recruitment of ERα to its cis-regulatory elements in the genome and subsequent transcriptional induction of target genes such as cyclin D1 in breast cancer cells (Carroll et al., 2005; Laganiere et al., 2005). GATA-3 is required for estrogen stimulation of cell cycle progression in breast cancer cells. It upregulates ERα by binding to two cis-regulatory elements located within the ERα gene; this binding allows recruitment of RNA polymerase II to ERα promoters (Eeckhoute et al., 2007). Another forkhead box transcription factor FOXO3a also induces ERα expression via binding to the ERα promoter (Belguise and Sonenshein, 2007; Guo and Sonenshein, 2004).

In addition to its association with ERα-negative breast cancer in general, NF-κB activation has been linked to EGFR or HER-2 overexpression-induced loss of ER in inflammatory breast cancer (Van Laere et al., 2007). This is consistent with an earlier finding that NF-κB mediates the downregulation of ER by hyperactive MAPK (Holloway et al., 2004; Oh et al., 2001), commonly induced by EGFR and HER-2 overexpression. It should be noted that mechanisms for the inhibition of ERα by NF-κB are still not well understood. NF-κB p65 may act by directly binding to the ERα promoter (Mahmoodzadeh et al., 2009; Tanimoto et al., 1999). In addition to the reported NF-κB binding sites in the B promoter of the ERα gene (Tanimoto et al., 1999), there is a highly conserved NF-κB binding site in the F promoter of ERα at nucleotides −380 to −420 (Mahmoodzadeh et al., 2009). CHIP analysis confirmed that NF-κB can bind to the region containing the conserved sequences. Another possibility is that p65 interacts with ERα and thereby inhibits ERα activity (Gionet et al., 2009; Stein and Yang, 1995). This may in turn reduce ERα transcription, which can be positively regulated by estrogen-activated ERα itself through half EREs in its promoter (Piva et al., 1988; Treilleux et al., 1997). The NF-κB effect may also be explained in part by its regulation of genes that modulate ERα expression.

In summary, this study delineates a mechanism for the low or absent ERα expression in basal-like breast cancer and proposes a new paradigm for investigating the control of ERα expression during breast cancer progression. These findings build on a previous report that expression of cyclin D1 and other growth-promoting genes is increased in FOXC1-overexpressing cells. A link between ERα and FOXC1/NF-κB may have clinical implications for ERα-positive breast cancer patients who recur with ERα-negative cancer.

Example 6: Prognostic Stratification of HER2-Enriched Patients Utilizing Semi-Quantitative Gene Expression Microarray Assessment of FOXC1

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) enriched tumors display either gene amplification or protein overexpression. This subtype of breast cancer is notable for its variable prognosis and response to systemic therapy. It has been suggested that a subset of HER2-positive tumors exhibit basal-like characteristics, the so-called basal-HER2 subtype. The basal-HER2 subtype has been shown to have the worst prognosis within HER2-overexpressing tumors. It has been suggested that the basal-HER2 subtype simultaneously co-expresses HER2 and markers typical of basal-like breast cancer. As described in the examples above, FOXC1 is a theranostic biomarker of the basal-like breast cancer molecular subtype. Therefore, FOXC1 expression may be investigated within HER2-overexpressing tumors to determine whether FOXC1 expression represents the basal-HER2 subtype and prognosticates poor overall survival (OS).

Gene expression microarray data from 58 HER2-amplified tumors were obtained from a publicly available database that contained linked clinical outcomes data (J Clin Oncol. 2010 Apr. 10; 28(11):1813-20. Epub 2010 Mar. 15). The data was analyzed for FOXC1 expression and a median cutoff value (50th percentile) was used to segregate tumors into FOXC1 high and FOXC1 low designations. Prognostic significance of FOXC1 (high vs. low) was assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses.

FIG. 14 shows that the FOXC1 high designation had a significantly worse OS compared to the FOXC1 low designation (p=0.0313). FOXC1 high designation was an independent prognostic indicator for worse OS when controlled for age, tumor size, and lymph node status (HR 2.54, 95% CI 1.21-5.33, p=0.0138).

Tumors that co-express FOXC1 and HER2 may represent the hybrid basal-like/HER2+ subtype. Patients with HER2-enriched tumors that have an elevated FOXC1 expression display worse survival. Assessment of FOXC1 expression within HER2-enriched tumors may represent a pragmatic approach for the diagnosis and prognosis of the basal-HER2 subtype.

Example 7: Prognostic Stratification of Luminal Patients Utilizing Semi-Quantitative Gene Expression Microarray Assessment of FOXC1

Estrogen receptor and/or progesterone receptor-enriched tumors display either gene amplification or protein overexpression of ER and/or PR. A subset of ER-positive and/or PR positive tumors may exhibit basal-like characteristics, the so-called hybrid basal-like/luminal subtype. The hybrid basal-like/luminal subtype likely has the worst prognosis within ER or PR overexpressing tumors. The hybrid basal-like/luminal subtype likely simultaneously co-expresses ER and/or PR and markers typical of basal-like breast cancer. As described in the examples above, FOXC1 is a theranostic biomarker of the basal-like breast cancer molecular subtype. Therefore, FOXC1 expression may be investigated within ER and/or PR overexpressing tumors to determine whether FOXC1 expression represents the hybrid basal-like/luminal subtype and prognosticates poor overall survival (OS).

Gene expression microarray data from ER and/or PR amplified tumors may be obtained from a publicly available database that contains linked clinical outcomes data. The data may be analyzed for FOXC1 expression and a median cutoff value should be used to segregate tumors into FOXC1 high and FOXC1 low designations. Prognostic significance of FOXC1 (high vs. low) may be assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses.

FOXC1 high designation likely has a significantly worse OS compared to the FOXC1 low designation within the luminal subtype. FOXC1 high designation is likely an independent prognostic indicator for worse OS when controlled for age, tumor size, and lymph node status.

Tumors that co-express FOXC1 and ER and/or PR may represent the hybrid basal-like/luminal subtype. Patients with ER and/or PR enriched tumors that have an elevated FOXC1 expression are likely to display worse survival. Assessment of FOXC1 expression within ER and/or PR enriched tumors may represent a pragmatic approach for the diagnosis and prognosis of the hybrid basal-like/luminal subtype.

Example 8: Prognostic Stratification of Triple Negative Patients Utilizing Semi-Quantitative Gene Expression Microarray Assessment of FOXC1

Triple negative tumors do not express ER, PR or HER2. A subset of triple-negative tumors may exhibit basal-like characteristics, the so-called hybrid basal-like/triple negative subtype. The hybrid basal-like/triple negative subtype is associated with the worst prognosis within triple negative tumors. The hybrid basal-like/triple negative subtype likely expresses markers typical of basal-like breast cancer. As described in the examples above, FOXC1 is a theranostic biomarker of the basal-like breast cancer molecular subtype. Therefore, FOXC1 expression may be investigated within triple negative tumors to determine whether FOXC1 expression represents the hybrid basal-like/triple negative subtype and prognosticates poor overall survival (OS).

Gene expression microarray data from triple negative tumors may be obtained from a publicly available database that contains linked clinical outcomes data. The data may be analyzed for FOXC1 expression and a median cutoff value should be used to segregate tumors into FOXC1 high and FOXC1 low designations. Prognostic significance of FOXC1 (high vs. low) may be assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses.

FOXC1 high designation likely has a significantly worse OS compared to the FOXC1 low designation within the triple negative subtype. FOXC1 high designation is likely an independent prognostic indicator for worse OS when controlled for age, tumor size, and lymph node status.

Tumors that express FOXC1 and not ER, PR and HER2 may represent the hybrid basal-like/triple negative subtype. Patients with triple negative tumors that have an elevated FOXC1 expression are likely to display worse survival. Assessment of FOXC1 expression within triple negative tumors may represent a pragmatic approach for the diagnosis and prognosis of the hybrid basal-like/luminal subtype.

Example 1: FOXC1/FOXA1 Transcriptional Balance in Breast Cancer: From Acquisition of Mesenchymal and Stem Cell Traits to Occult Lymph Node Independent Breast Cancer Metastasis.

RNA-Seq profiling of the Harvey-Ras (HRAS)-transformed MCF10A cell series, a well characterized and widely accepted in vitro model of breast cancer progression and metastasis (see Wang et al., 1997), was used to correlate measured FOXC1/FOXA1 ratios to dynamic shifts in EMT marker expression in 3D matrigel cultures and to stem cell traits observed in primary and secondary mammosphere suspension cultures (see FIGS. 27-33). The ability of the FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratio was further tested to predict lymph node independent breast cancer metastasis and death in independent human breast cancer gene expression datasets (see FIGS. 34-36).

RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR profiling confirmed progressive increase in FOXC1/FOXA1 ratio to correlate with a progressive loss of E-cadherin expression and synchronous gain of EMT markers N-cadherin, Fibronectin, and Vimentin (see FIGS. 28-30). FOXC1/FOXA1 ratio was found to be directly proportional to mammosphere formation efficiency, a surrogate indicator of stem cell enrichment (see FIGS. 31-33). In patients without any evidence of nodal metastasis, elevated FOXC1/FOXA1 ratio was associated with significantly decreased 10 year Overall Survival (HR 2.58; 95% CI 1.39 to 4.80, p=0.003, 295 patient Van de Vijver dataset; van 't Veer et al., 2002), 10 year Disease-specific Survival (HR 1.74; 95% CI 1.16 to 2.61, p=0.008, 1992 patient Curtis dataset; Curtis et al., 2012)) and predicted the development of lung metastasis.

As shown by the results presented herein, an elevated FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratio indicated EMT program activation in breast cancer. Elevated FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratio also indicated the associated occurrence of lymph-node-independent distant metastasis and death in human patients. This discovery allows for the early (pre-symptomatic) diagnosis of clinically occult (node negative metastasis by using the FOX/C1 FOXA1 ratio as a biomarker of early breast cancer metastasis.

Example 1: Proteasome Inhibitor Bortezomib Inhibits NF-κB and Effectively Overcomes Cancer Stem Cell Escape Triggered by Wnt Inhibitor Therapy in FOXC1 Positive Basal-Like/Claudin-Low Breast Cancer.

The Wnt/β catenin signaling pathway is active in basal-like/claudin-low breast cancers (Scheel et al., 2001). It was previously shown that FOXC1 plays a critical role in mediating aggressive cell traits in such cancers (see FIGS. 39 and 40; Ray et al, 2010). As provided herein, the link between Wnt signaling and FOXC1 and its potential in regulating cancer stem cell (CSC) biology in basal-like/claudin-low breast cancer was investigated.

The proposed mechanism of FOXC1 regulation by Wnt/β catenin signaling is shown in FIG. 41. FIG. 42 shows that FOXC1 acts as a downstream mediator of Wnt-driven regulation of CSCs in basal-like/claudin-low breast cancer.

Beta-catenin (CTNNB1) expression level and survival was analyzed using a breast cancer transcriptomic database (see FIG. 43; Curtis et al., 2012). Additionally, it was observed that exposure of the MDA-MB-231 basal-like/claudin-low cell line (low constitutive FOXC1 expressor) to Wnt3a (a canonical Wnt signaling ligand), resulted in increased expression of FOXC1 (see FIG. 44D). Reciprocally, overexpression of FOXC1 in MCF10A human mammary epithelial cells led to a pronounced increase in Wnt signaling activity, strongly suggestive of a direct or indirect positive feedback loop between Wnt signaling and FOXC1. More importantly, BT549 and HS578T basal-like/claudin-low cells (high constitutive FOXC1 expressors) proved to be more sensitive to treatment with the Wnt inhibitor iCRT3 as evidenced by decreased cell viability when compared to MCF7 (luminal) or SKBR3 (HER2) breast cancer cell lines (see FIGS. 45A and 45B). Furthermore the decrease in cell viability appeared to be proportionate to the level of FOXC1 expression (see FIGS. 45A and 45B).

Upon pharmacological inhibition with iCRT3 and biological inhibition with siRNA knockdown of LRP6, a canonical Wnt signaling cell surface receptor, a decrease in FOXC1 expression level was observed in a dose and time dependent manner (see FIGS. 44A and 44B). This effect was particularly pronounced in mammosphere cultures enriched for BT549 cancer stem-like cells. Inhibition of Wnt signaling reduced mammosphere formation efficiency of BT549 cells, suggesting that Wnt inhibition targets cancer stem cells (CSCs) in the basal-like/claudin-low breast cancer subtype (see FIGS. 47A and 47B). More importantly, however, after an initial 4 day incubation period, some cells were observed to persist and later display renewed enhancement of mammosphere formation ability. Profiling of such cells interestingly revealed depletion of FOXC1 positive cells, but persistence of cells displaying pronounced up regulation of stereotypical embryonic stem cell transcription factors OCT4, SOX2 and NANOG, strongly suggestive of a potential primitive stem cell/quiescent cell state escape mechanism (see FIG. 48). qRT-PCR based pathway activation analysis revealed marked activation of NF-κB signaling in the residual cells that withstood Wnt inhibition.

Simultaneous pharmacologic inhibition with Wnt inhibitor iCRT3 and the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, which is known to inhibit NF-κB signaling, effectively targeted BT549 cancer stem cells in mammosphere culture and prevented the persistence/emergence of any residual cells (see FIGS. 49A and 49B). The combination treatment of iCRT3 with bortezomib was so effective that no mammosphere cells were viable at the end of the combined treatment (i.e., iCRT3 and bortezomib) and therefore there were no mammosphere cells to be profiled using qRT-PCR (see FIGS. 49A and 49B). Taken together, these findings suggest that combination therapy approaches are likely required to effectively target breast cancer stem cells.

In certain embodiments, the tumor cells of a patient with cancer may be screened for FOXC1 expression to select patients with basal-like cancers. In certain embodiments, the patients may be treated with a combination therapy of a Wnt inhibitor and a proteasome inhibitor.

REFERENCES

The references listed below, and all references cited in the specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

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What is claimed is:
 1. A method of treating metastatic breast cancer in a subject, the method comprising: detecting an expression level of FOXC1 in a population of breast cancer tumor cells from the subject; detecting an expression level of FOXA1 in the population of breast cancer tumor cells; and administering a treatment for metastatic breast cancer to the subject if the expression ratio of FOXC1/FOXA1 in the population of breast cancer tumor cells is an elevated FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratio as compared to a control.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the expression level of FOXC1 and FOXA1 in the breast cancer tumor cells is performed via quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) or RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq).
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the control is a cutoff expression ratio which is established using a set of FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratios from a population of patients having a cross-section of all types of breast cancer and wherein the cutoff expression ratio falls at the 75th percentile line, the 80th percentile line, the 85th percentile line, the 90th percentile line, the 95th percentile line, or at higher than the 95th percentile line.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the control is a cutoff expression ratio which is established using a set of FOXC1/FOXA1 expression ratios from a population of patients having node-negative breast cancer and wherein the cutoff expression ratio falls at the 80th percentile line.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the expression ratio of FOXC1/FOXA1 in the population of breast cancer tumor cells is detected at a pre-symptomatic stage of early breast cancer metastasis.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment is a therapeutically effective amount of one or more therapeutic agents.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more therapeutic agents is selected from chemotherapeutic agents, therapeutic antibodies and fragments thereof, toxins, radioisotopes, enzymes, nucleases, hormones, immunomodulators, antisense oligonucleotides, nucleic acid molecules, chelators, boron compounds, photoactive agents and dyes. 